RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority from and the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201910849928.X, filed Sep. 10, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a phase shifter.

BACKGROUND

A phase shifter is a device that is capable of adjusting the phase of a radio frequency (RF) signal. The phase shift can be introduced into the RF signal by transmitting the RF signal in a medium. The phase shifter is a device that uses this principle to change the phase of a RF signal.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention is directed to a phase shifter. The phase shifter includes an input port configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal; a first output port, a second output port, a third output port, and a fourth output port each configured to output a respective phase-shifted sub-component of the RF signal; a first conductive trace that extends in a first direction, the first conductive trace coupled to the first output port and the second output port; a second conductive trace that extends in the first direction, the second conductive trace coupled to the third output port and the fourth output port; and a first wiper configured to couple the input port to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace, wherein the first wiper is configured to be slidable in the first direction with respect to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, at least one of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace may be a meandered trace.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the meandered trace may be a periodic curve.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the periodic curve may be one of a sinusoidal curve and a square wave curve.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, both the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace may be periodic curves and a period of the first conductive trace is different from a period of the second conductive trace.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, a height of the first conductive trace may be different from a height of the second conductive trace.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, a width of the first conductive trace may be different from a width of the second conductive trace.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the phase shifter may further include a first dielectric substrate below the first conductive trace, and a second dielectric substrate below the second conductive trace, wherein a dielectric constant of the first dielectric substrate is different from a dielectric constant of the second dielectric substrate.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the phase shifter may further include a first dielectric substrate below the first conductive trace, and a second dielectric substrate below the second conductive trace, wherein a thickness of the first dielectric substrate is different from a thickness of the second dielectric substrate.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the first wiper may include a first coupling portion that is configured to couple to the first conductive trace, a second coupling portion that is configured to couple to the second conductive trace, and a third coupling portion that is configured to couple to the input port.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, a width of the first coupling portion may be substantially equal to a height of the first conductive trace.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, a width of the second coupling portion may be substantially equal to a height of the second conductive trace.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the phase shifter may further include a third conductive trace that is coupled to the input port, wherein the third coupling portion is coupled to the input port via the third conductive trace.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the third conductive trace may extend in the first direction.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the phase shifter may further include a fifth output port configured to output an additional phase-shifted sub-component of the RF signal; a fourth conductive trace that is coupled to the fifth output port; and a second wiper that is configured to couple the fourth conductive trace to the third conductive trace, wherein the second wiper is slidable on the fourth conductive trace in the first direction to change a phase of the RF signal output from the fifth output port.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, a sliding of the second wiper may be associated with a sliding of the first wiper such that a phase of the additional phase-shifted sub-component of the RF signal output from the fifth output port remains substantially unchanged before and after the sliding of the first wiper.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, a distance slid by the second wiper may be proportional to a distance slid by the first wiper.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the second wiper may be “U” shaped.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the second wiper and the first wiper may be implemented as a single integrated member.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the phase shifter may further include a third dielectric substrate below the third conductive trace; and a fourth dielectric substrate below the fourth conductive trace.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, a dielectric constant of the third dielectric substrate may be different from a dielectric constant of the fourth dielectric substrate.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, a thickness of the third dielectric substrate may be different from a thickness of the fourth dielectric substrate.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a phase shifter. The phase shifter includes an input port configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal; a first output port and a second output port each configured to output respective phase shifted sub-components of the RF signal; a first conductive trace configured to extend in a first direction that is coupled to the first output port and to the second output port; and a wiper configured to couple the input port to the first conductive trace, wherein the wiper is configured to be slidable above the first conductive trace in the first direction to change the phase of the respective sub-components of the RF signal that are output at the first output port and the second output port.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the first conductive trace may be a periodic curve and the first conductive trace includes at least one period of the periodic curve.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the periodic curve may include a sinusoidal curve and a square wave curve.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the wiper may include a first coupling portion coupled to the first conductive trace, and the first coupling portion may have a width substantially equal to a height of the first conductive trace.

A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a phase shifter. The phase shifter includes a main printed circuit board structure that includes: an input port; a first meandered conductive trace that extends in a first direction on the main printed circuit board structure, the first meandered conductive trace forming a first RF transmission path that has a first length; a second meandered conductive trace that extends in the first direction on the main printed circuit board structure, the second meandered conductive trace forming a second RF transmission path that has a second length that exceeds the first length; and a wiper that is configured to move above the first meandered conductive trace along the first direction.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the phase shifter may further include: a first output port that is coupled to a first end of the first meandered conductive trace; a second output port that is coupled to a second end of the first meandered conductive trace; a third output port that is coupled to a first end of the second meandered conductive trace; and a fourth output port that is coupled to a second end of the second meandered conductive trace.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the first meandered conductive trace may have a wave shape having a first period and a first height, and the second meandered conductive trace may have a wave shape having a second period and a second height, where the first period differs from the second period and/or the first height differs from the second height.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, the wiper may be further configured to move above the second meandered conductive trace along the first direction.

In some embodiments according to the present invention, a first width of the first meandered conductive trace may be less than a second width of the second meandered conductive trace.

Further features of the present disclosure and its advantages will become clear from the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention.

