University of California

Agile Rf, Inc.

Agile Materials and Technologies, Inc.

Hughes Electronics Corporation

Toyon Research Corporation

Robert Armstrong York

Angelos Alexanian

Albert Humirang Cardona

Amit S Nagra

Roger J Forse

David B Rensch

David R Chase

Jeffrey B Shealy

Michael P Grace

Bill R Norvell

Vicki Chen

Andrea Borgioli

Christopher R Elsass

An acoustic resonator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a barium strontium titanate (BST) dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the acoustic resonator is switched on as a resonator with a resonant frequency if a DC (direct current) bias voltage is applied across the BST dielectric layer. The acoustic resonator is also switched off if no DC bias voltage is applied across the BST dielectric layer. Furthermore, the resonant frequency of the acoustic resonator can be tuned based on a level of the DC bias voltage, with the resonant frequency increasing as the level of the DC bias voltage applied to the BST acoustic resonator increases.

Switchable tunable acoustic resonator using BST material

Controlled phase shift in the operation of an RF antenna element is achieved by selectively choosing between different modes of antenna element resonance. Additional phase control resolution is achieved by combining this with other types of phase shifters. Such phase shifters are especially useful within a phased array of RF antenna radiator elements.

Switched-resonance antenna phase shifter and phased array incorporating same

Parallel plate tunable varactors having a bulk capacitance contribution to a total capacitance increased compared to a fringing capacitance contribution are disclosed. The contribution of the bulk capacitance to the total capacitance of an exemplary BST varactor is increased by increasing the area/perimeter ratio of the active region, thereby improving the tunability and other properties of the varactor. In an exemplary embodiment, an active region of the varactor has a lateral shape with a perimeter that is less than a perimeter of an equivalent area square. In various exemplary embodiments, the shape of the active region may be substantially circular or substantially octagonal. Methods for fabricating and designing such varactors are also disclosed.

Varactor design using area to perimeter ratio for improved tuning range

An acoustic resonator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a barium strontium titanate (BST) dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the acoustic resonator is switched on as a resonator with a resonant frequency if a DC (direct current) bias voltage is applied across the BST dielectric layer. The acoustic resonator is also switched off in no DC bias voltage is applied across the BST dielectric layer. Furthermore, the resonant frequency of the acoustic resonator can be tuned based on a level of the DC bias voltage, with the resonant frequency increasing as the level of the DC bias voltage applied to the BST acoustic resonator increases.

A wafer antenna comprises a wafer substrate, a plurality of antenna elements integrated on the wafer substrate for radiating and receiving a radio frequency signal, an electrical connection integrated on the wafer substrate; a feed network integrated on the wafer substrate for distributing the RF signal from the electrical connection to the antenna elements and from the antenna elements to the electrical connection, and a plurality of tunable dielectric phase shifters integrated on the wafer substrate with each of the tunable dielectric phase shifters coupled to a corresponding one of the antenna elements and controlling the phase of the RF signal coupled to the corresponding one of the antenna elements.

Wafer scanning antenna with integrated tunable dielectric phase shifters

A circuit topology is configured to flatten out a phase- and amplitude-response over a specified range of frequencies. The circuit topology also provides a large cumulative phase-shift. In one embodiment, the circuit topology cascades a plurality of all-pass sections, with the center-frequencies of each all-pass section staggered to create a substantially flat phase-response over a frequency range. Further, in one embodiment the plurality of all-pass sections has at least one all-pass section that is different from another all-pass section. Each all-pass section includes a tunable capacitor and has a center-frequency that can be varied by electronically tuning the capacitor. Each center frequency is selected to obtain substantially constant amplitude and phase response over a desired frequency range and capacitance tuning range.

Analog phase shifter using cascaded voltage tunable capacitor

A self-tuning variable impedance circuit provides improved performance. A variation in the power applied to the variable impedance circuit causes a corresponding change in the impedance of the circuit, resulting in improved performance. For example, the variable impedance circuit may be a matching circuit that 'follows' the output power of a power amplifier, thereby increasing the power efficiency of the power amplifier.

Self-tuning variable impedance circuit for impedance matching of power amplifiers

A tuning circuit for use in an electrical circuit network is disclosed. The tuning circuit includes a bridge circuit. The bridge circuit comprises a first adjustable capacitance grouping, a second adjustable capacitance grouping and a third adjustable capacitance grouping. Each adjustable capacitance grouping includes at least one tunable capacitor and a bias port. In one embodiment, the tunable capacitor is comprised of a tunable thin-film barium strontium titanate ('BST') capacitor. A first lead and a second lead couple to, or extend from, the bridge circuit. The leads are configured to couple with a coupling element and a shunt element of the electrical circuit network so that when the leads are grounded, one adjustable capacitance group is grounded and the remaining adjustable capacitance group couple with a bias voltage to appropriately tune the electrical circuit to achieve desired electrical characteristics.

Tunable bridge circuit

A parallel-plate, voltage-variable capacitor is designed to have an increased current conducting perimeter relative to its area. In one approach, the perimeter is increased by changing the shape of the plates. In another approach, the varactor is implemented by a number of disjoint plates, which are coupled in parallel.

Voltage-variable capacitor with increased current conducting perimeter

A capacitive element includes two or more voltage-variable capacitors (varactors). The varactors are configured so that they are coupled in series with respect to an applied AC signal and are coupled in parallel with respect to an applied DC bias voltage. The effective capacitance of the overall capacitive element can be tuned by varying the DC bias voltage.

Circuit configuration for DC-biased capacitors

A phase shifter, such as for use in phased antenna arrays, comprising thin film BST capacitors periodically loading a transmission line. The BST thin films can be deposited using RF sputtering on a variety of substrates, and the capacitors can be of a parallel plate configuration or of an interdigitated configuration. An aspect of the invention additionally provides for the use of periodically distributed lumped-element inductors comprising the transmission line. A further aspect provides for programmatic determination of circuit design and configuration parameters based on the input of desired characteristics and materials for the phase shifter.

Phase shifters using transmission lines periodically loaded with barium strontium titanate (BST) capacitors

A microelectromechanical switch is disclosed comprising a conductor, a dielectric layer disposed on the conductor, a metal cap disposed on the dielectric layer and a bridge disposed proximate to the metal cap such that an electrical potential applied between the bridge and conductor causes the bridge to deform and contact the metal cap.

Capacitive microelectromechanical switches

A combined test fixture and spatial-power-combined amplifier includes a base, a first waveguide mounting flange engaged to said base, a second waveguide mounting flange engaged to said base, a waveguide input fixed to said first flange, a waveguide output fixed to said second flange, an amplifier array disposed between said first flange and second flange, said array comprising a plurality of semiconductors for amplifying a signal, and a spacer for spacing apart said semiconductors. A plurality of amplifier cards constitute the array, with the cards being disposed in various arrangements which include a linearly stacked arrangement and radially stacked arrangement. The first and second waveguide mounting flanges are constructed to slide along the base to enable the amplifier array to be easily changed.

Universal fixture/package for spatial-power-combined amplifier

A high-powered, solid state microwave and millimeter wave, power combiner and divider is provided by using a plurality of radially oriented tapered slotline cards disposed in a center cylindrical coaxial section between its inner and outer conductors. The cylindrical coaxial section in turn is coupled to a conical input coaxial section that couples and distributes the input signal among the plurality of cards, and an output coaxial section that combines the output signal from the plurality of cards to an output coaxial terminal. The device is compact with broadband performance and provides a natural heat sink for a plurality of lower powered devices, which enables the power combiner to use a large number of lower powered devices to meet larger power requirements.

High efficiency broadband coaxial power combiner/splitter with radial

A quasi-optical power combining array provides broadband, well heat sinked performance by means of coupling an array of parallel slotline transition modules between a input waveguide and an output waveguide. Each slotline transition module is comprised of a heat sinked ceramic substrate upon which a pair of tapered slot transitions is defined, each of which lead to a quasi-optical element such as an amplifier, which in turn is coupled to a corresponding pair of tapered slot transitions leading to the output waveguide. Each slotline module is symmetrically formed to maximize input and output tuning and selectively balanced operation.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Robert Armstrong York