Abstract
An analog RF microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) slotline true-time-delay (TTD) phase shifter is presented for use in conjunction with tapered slot antennas, such as the Vivaldi aerial and the double exponentially tapered slot antenna. The design is a scalable distributed loaded-line cascade of 62 novel differential slow-wave unit cells. Each differential slow-wave unit cell comprises an electrically short slotline section, which is loaded with a shunt impedance consisting of two center-pulled contactless fixed-fixed beam RF MEMS varactors in series, sharing a common electrode. The analog RF MEMS slotline TTD phase shifter is demonstrated on a borosilicate glass wafer using a microfabrication process requiring six masks. It is designed for transistor-transistor logic bias voltage levels and exhibits a measured phase shift of 28.2deg/dB (7.8 ps/dB) and 59.2deg/cm at 10 GHz, maintaining a 75-Omega differential impedance match (S11dd < -15.8 dB). The input third-order intercept point is 5 dBm at 10 GHz for a Deltaf of 50 kHz, measured in a 100-Omega differential transmission line system. Design and fabrication opportunities, concerning distortion and loss reduction, as well as packaging, are highlighted.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2151-2159 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- electronically scanned array
- phase shifter
- RF microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)
- MEMS
- slotline
- true time delay (TTD)