Delay element with a perturber displaceable between first and second microstrip circuits

Abstract

A differential delay element for use, e.g., in selectively delaying RF signals in telecommunication systems includes a first microstrip circuit and a second microstrip circuit arranged side-by-side in a facing relationship. The first microstrip circuit defines a first delayed travel path for a first signal from a first input port to a first output port and the second microstrip circuit defines a second delayed travel path for a second signal from a second input port to a second output port. A perturber is arranged between the first and second microstrip circuits, displaceable toward and away from the first and second microstrip circuits, so that when the distance of the perturber to one of the microstrip circuits increases, the distance of the perturber to the other of the microstrip circuits decreases and viceversa. The position of the perturber between the first and second microstrip circuits defines the differential delay, namely the difference (Δτ=τ1−τ2) between the times (τ1,τ2) experienced by the two signals in travelling their travel paths through the delay device.