An apparatus is disclosed for phase-shifting signals. In example implementations, the apparatus includes a phase shifter. The phase shifter includes a first port, a second port, a vector modulator coupled to the first port, and a signal phase generator. The signal phase generator includes multiple amplifiers coupled between the vector modulator and the second port. The signal phase generator also includes multiple capacitors that couple the multiple amplifiers together to form a loop. Each respective capacitor of the multiple capacitors is coupled between a respective pair of consecutive amplifiers of the multiple amplifiers to form the loop.

Digital step attenuator (DSA) and digital phase shifter (DPS) multi-stage circuit architectures that provide for high resolution. Embodiments use a dithering approach to weight bit positions to provide a much finer resolution than the lowest-valued individual stage. Bit position weights for stages are determined so as to enable selection of combinations of n bit positions that provide a desired total attenuation or phase shift range while allowing utilization of the large number of states (2.sup.n) available to produce fractional intermediate steps of attenuation or phase shift. The fractional intermediate steps have a resolution finer than the lowest-valued stage. Bit position weights may be determined using a weighting function, including weightings determined from a linear series, a geometric series, a harmonic series, or alternating variants of such series. In some embodiments, at least one bit position has a fixed value that is not determined by the bit position weighting function.

Digital step attenuator (DSA) and digital phase shifter (DPS) multi-stage circuit architectures that provide for high resolution. Embodiments use a dithering approach to weight bit positions to provide a much finer resolution than the lowest-valued individual stage. Bit position weights for stages are determined so as to enable selection of combinations of n bit positions that provide a desired total attenuation or phase shift range while allowing utilization of the large number of states (2.sup.n) available to produce fractional intermediate steps of attenuation or phase shift. The fractional intermediate steps have a resolution finer than the lowest-valued stage. Bit position weights may be determined using a weighting function, including weightings determined from a linear series, a geometric series, a harmonic series, or alternating variants of such series. In some embodiments, at least one bit position has a fixed value that is not determined by the bit position weighting function.

The present technology pertains to a system and method of operation of a metamaterial phase shifter having various use applications. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a phase shifter includes a network of tunable impedance elements and a controller. The controller is coupled to the network of tunable impedance elements and configured to receive a phase shift input value and determine a corresponding tuning voltage to be supplied to each tunable impedance element of the network of tunable impedance elements based on the phase shift input value, the network of tunable impedance element being configured to shift a phase of an input signal based on tuning voltages supplied to the network of tunable impedance elements by the controller.

The present technology pertains to a system and method of operation of a metamaterial phase shifter having various use applications. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a phase shifter includes a network of tunable impedance elements and a controller. The controller is coupled to the network of tunable impedance elements and configured to receive a phase shift input value and determine a corresponding tuning voltage to be supplied to each tunable impedance element of the network of tunable impedance elements based on the phase shift input value, the network of tunable impedance element being configured to shift a phase of an input signal based on tuning voltages supplied to the network of tunable impedance elements by the controller.

A phase shifter for altering the phase of a radio frequency signal is disclosed herein. A Lange coupler is used having reflective ports that are coupled to artificial transmission lines. The artificial transmission lines provide a reflection transmission path, the length of which can be determined by digital control lines. Transistors placed along the length of the central trace provide independent paths to ground that serve to shorten the electrical length of the ATL. Accordingly, by selectively turning the transistors on/off, the electrical length of the ATL can be selected and thus the amount of phase delay introduced by the phase shifter.

A phase shifter for altering the phase of a radio frequency signal is disclosed herein. A Lange coupler is used having reflective ports that are coupled to artificial transmission lines. The artificial transmission lines provide a reflection transmission path, the length of which can be determined by digital control lines. Transistors placed along the length of the central trace provide independent paths to ground that serve to shorten the electrical length of the ATL. Accordingly, by selectively turning the transistors on/off, the electrical length of the ATL can be selected and thus the amount of phase delay introduced by the phase shifter.

A novel bi-directional vector modulator to be used as an active phase shifter is proposed. The advantages of the active phase shifter include: 1) Compact sizeBy active current combining technique, short transmission lines are used to perform signal combining rather than using area-consuming Wilkinson combiner or splitter; 2) High phase resolution and flexibilityphase interpolation can be performed by vector addition through m-path vector modulators; 3) High efficiencyno signal switch loss, only switched matching capacitor; 4) Simplified signal interconnection; 5) No passive combiner neededeliminate large size and losses in the passive combiner); 6) Can have unequal combining and/or splitting by changing the gain of vector modulator, which is difficult to realize with passive combining and/or splitting network; and 7) Can combine different signals.

A novel bi-directional vector modulator to be used as an active phase shifter is proposed. The advantages of the active phase shifter include: 1) Compact sizeBy active current combining technique, short transmission lines are used to perform signal combining rather than using area-consuming Wilkinson combiner or splitter; 2) High phase resolution and flexibilityphase interpolation can be performed by vector addition through m-path vector modulators; 3) High efficiencyno signal switch loss, only switched matching capacitor; 4) Simplified signal interconnection; 5) No passive combiner neededeliminate large size and losses in the passive combiner); 6) Can have unequal combining and/or splitting by changing the gain of vector modulator, which is difficult to realize with passive combining and/or splitting network; and 7) Can combine different signals.

A phase shifter, a phase shift degree compensation device, and a phase shift degree compensation method are provided. The phase shifter includes a first substrate and a second substrate that are oppositely arranged, a resonant circuit, a signal line, and a first alignment layer are on a side of the first substrate facing the second substrate, a conductive layer and a second alignment layer are on a side of the second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer is between the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer, and the resonant circuit is configured to detect an actual equivalent dielectric constant of the liquid crystal layer