A single chip X-band phase shifter with 6 bit uncorrected phase resolution and more than 8 bit corrected phase resolution

Abstract

The design, fabrication, performance, and production results of a GaAs monolithic phase shifter, based on a vector modulator principle, are described. The device exhibited a typical root-mean-square (RMS) phase error of about 3 degrees and an RMS amplitude error of less than 0.30 dB across the frequency band of 7.0-10.5 GHz and over a linear controllable gain range of 15 dB. Typical insertion gain was 0 dB, input return losses were better than 15 dB and output return losses were better than 10 dB. The device is intended for application in a wideband active phased-array antenna. The analog control of the device allows the correction of the systematic phase errors and amplitude errors. Tests have demonstrated that through phase correction the RMS phase error was reduced to less than 0.7 degrees while the RMS amplitude error was still less than 0.30 dB.<>