Claims
- 1. A phase shifter comprising:
a coupling arm for varying the electrical phase between outputs of an RF feed line, the coupling arm comprising:
a coupling ring; a wiper element; and a mid portion connecting the coupling ring to the wiper element, the coupling arm being rotatable about an axis centered relative to the coupling ring.
- 2. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein the coupling arm is capacitively coupled to the feed line.
- 3. The phase shifter of claim 1, further comprising at least two capacitive junctions formed between the coupling arm and the RF feed line.
- 4. The phase shifter of claim 3, wherein a first capacitive junction comprises the coupling ring and a first feed line, and a second capacitive junction comprises the wiper element and a second feed line.
- 5. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein the coupling ring is a first coupling ring, the phase shifter further comprising a second coupling ring, the second coupling ring transferring RF energy to the first coupling ring via a capacitive junction.
- 6. The phase shifter of claim 5, wherein the second coupling ring forms a portion of an RF feed line.
- 7. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein the phase shifter further system further comprises a dielectric spacer positioned adjacent to the coupling arm.
- 8. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein the coupling arm comprises an electrical length of approximately one quarter of an operating RF wavelength.
- 9. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein the coupling arm comprises an electrical length of approximately a multiple of one quarter of an operating RF wavelength.
- 10. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein the wiper element transfers RF energy to an RF feed line through a capacitive junction.
- 11. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein the RF feed line comprises a shape that corresponds with a shape of the wiper element, the wiper element moving within a volume that is positioned adjacent to the RF feed line when the coupling arm is rotated.
- 12. The phase shifter of claim 1, further comprising a spring for pressing the coupling arm against a planar surface.
- 13. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein the coupling arm further comprises an aperture and the phase shifter further comprises a shaft positioned within the aperture, the coupling arm being rotatable about the shaft.
- 14. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein the coupling arm further comprises a dielectric support comprising a wing portion and an arm portion, the arm portion supporting the wiper element.
- 15. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein the coupling arm further comprises a support trace for balancing circular movement of the coupling arm.
- 16. The phase shifter of claim 1, further comprising a support trace positioned on a planar surface separate from the coupling arm, for balancing circular movement of the coupling arm.
- 17. The phase shifter of claim 1, further comprising a support architecture for maintaining a constant spacing between the coupling arm and a feed line while providing for balanced circular movement of the coupling arm through a volume positioned adjacent to the feed line.
- 18. The phase shifter of claim 17, wherein the support architecture further comprises:
a shaft; and a washer.
- 19. The phase shifter of claim 17, wherein the support architecture comprises:
a spring for providing a compressive force against the coupling arm; and a key for connecting the coupling arm to a shaft.
- 20. The phase shifter of claim 1, further comprising a knob for rotating the coupling arm.
- 21. The phase shifter of claim 1, further comprising an automated adjustment mechanism for rotating the coupling arm.
- 22. The phase shifter of claim 21, wherein the automated adjustment mechanism comprises a motor.
- 23. The phase shifter of claim 21, wherein the automated adjustment mechanism is remotely activated with a remote controller.
- 24. An antenna system comprising:
a first antenna; a second antenna; and a coupling arm for varying the electrical phase between the first and second antenna, the coupling arm comprising:
a coupling ring; a wiper element; and a mid portion connecting the coupling ring to the wiper element, the coupling arm being rotatable about an axis centered relative to the coupling ring.
- 25. The antenna system of claim 24, wherein the coupling arm is capacitively coupled to the feed line.
- 26. The antenna system of claim 24, wherein the coupling arm is linked to an RF feed line by at least two capacitive junctions.
- 27. The antenna system of claim 26, wherein a first capacitive junction comprises the coupling ring and a first feed line, and a second capacitive junction comprises the wiper element and a second feed line.
- 28. The antenna system of claim 24, wherein the coupling ring is a first coupling ring, the antenna system further comprising a second coupling ring, the second coupling ring transferring RF energy to the first coupling ring via a capacitive junction.
- 29. The antenna system of claim 28, wherein the second coupling ring forms a portion of an RF feed line.
- 30. The antenna system of claim 24, wherein the antenna further system further comprises a dielectric spacer positioned adjacent to the coupling arm.
- 31. A method for shifting an electrical phase in an RF feed line, comprising the steps of:
positioning a coupling arm at a predetermined distance adjacent to a first feed line (1105) and a second feed line; propagating RF energy through the first feed line; capacitively coupling the RF energy from the first feed line into a coupling arm; capacitively coupling the RF energy from the coupling arm into a first section of the second feed line; rotating the coupling arm from the first section to a second section of the second feed line; and capacitively coupling the RF energy from the coupling arm into the second section of the second feed line.
- 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of capacitively coupling the RF energy from the first feed line into a coupling arm comprises the steps of:
propagate the RF energy to a first coupling ring connected to the first feed line; and coupling RF energy from the first coupling ring into a second coupling ring disposed on the coupling arm.
- 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of positioning a coupling arm further comprises the steps of:
fastening a support trace to the coupling arm; fastening a support trace to a planar surface adjacent to the first feed line; align the support trace on the coupling arm with the support trace on the planar surface; and securing the coupling arm to the planar surface with a mechanism permitting rotation of the coupling arm.
- 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of balancing rotation of the coupling arm with the support traces.
- 35. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of capacitively coupling the RF energy from the coupling arm into a first section of the second feed line further comprises the step of capacitively coupling RF energy from a wiper element into the first section of the second feed line.
STATEMENT REGARDING RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application entitled “Microstrip Phase Shifter,” filed on Aug. 23, 2001 and assigned U.S. Application Serial No. 60/314,507. The entire contents of the provisional application are hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60314507 |
Aug 2001 |
US |