Design of Reliable Analog DMTL Phase Shifter with Improved Performance for Ku Band Applications

TLDR: In this paper, an analog phase shifter based on distributed MEMS transmission line (DMTL) is designed for Ku band applications, where a new concept of stopper is incorporated to achieve high phase shift.

Abstract: An analog phase shifter based on distributed MEMS transmission line (DMTL) is designed for Ku band applications. Traditional RF MEMS phase shifter comprising 6 switches has limited phase shift of 37.75° due to instability region. A new concept of stopper is incorporated to achieve high phase shift. In the present paper, optimisation of the analog phase shifter is done to increase its phase shift upto 88.63°. Phase shift is a strong function of capacitance ratio which is increased from 1.75 to 2.95. The maximum operating voltage and mechanical resonant frequency for the phase shifter are 16 V and 8.3 KHz, respectively. The switching time is calculated to 56 μs. The simulated insertion loss of the phase shifter is -1.75 dB with return loss of -20.49 dB at 17 GHz. The simulated results are verified with analytical modelling which are in close match.