Low-dispersion 180° phase shifter using two synchronized MEMS switches

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Electronic versions

DOI

  • V. Gholizadeh
    Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
  • M.J. Asadi
    Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
  • Y. Ning
    Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
  • Cristiano Palego
    Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
  • J.C.M. Hwang
    Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
  • D. Scarbrough
    MEMtronics Corporation, Richardson, TX
  • C.L. Goldsmith
    MEMtronics Corporation, Richardson, TX
Previously, the design of our novel low-dispersion phase-shifter unit cell with two asynchronous MEMS switches was limited to 90°, so that four unit cells (90°, 90°, 90° and 45°) with a total of eight MEMS switches were required for a 3-bit phase shifter. This not only increased the size and loss of the phase shifter, but also decreased its yield and reliability. Recently, we hypothesized that by using two synchronized MEMS switches, the phase shift of a unit cell could be extended to 180° so that only three unit cells (180°, 90° and 45°) with a total of six MEMS switches would be required for a 3-bit phase shifter. This paper confirms the hypothesis with measured characteristics of a fabricated 180° phase-shifter unit cell. The measured characteristics compare well with both equivalent-circuit model prediction and three-dimensional finite-element electromagnetic simulation, provided the worse-than-expected loss from individual MEMS switches is taken into account. The results provide the proof of the design principle, so that with improved MEMS fabrication process such as thicker metallization, the switch loss can be reduced and low-dispersion phase shifters can be realized with compact size, low loss, low cost, and high reliability.

Keywords

  • Microswitches, Phase shifters, Loss measurement, Integrated circuit modeling, Insertion loss, Transmission line measurements
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLester Eastman Conference (LEC), 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Sept 2016
EventLester Eastman Conference (LEC) - Lehigh University, Bethlehem, United States
Duration: 2 Aug 20164 Aug 2016

Conference

ConferenceLester Eastman Conference (LEC)
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBethlehem
Period2/08/164/08/16
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