A variable gain CMOS phase shifter for phased array antenna applications

Abstract

This letter presents for the first time the development of a variable gain CMOS phase shifter using 0.18 mm CMOS process in the S-band frequencies to be integrated with conformal phased array beamforming antenna for smart communication radar applications. The vector modulator based phase shifter has an integrated variable gain amplifier codesigned with the phase shifter circuitry in order to be capable of controlling both phase and gain simultaneously which is necessary to recover the degraded radiation pattern due to the conformal shaping of the phased array antenna. The phase shifter achieves measured continuous phase shift of 3038 along with measured 7 dB gain control range over 2-2.60 GHz and an insertion loss of 7.12 dB at 2.2 GHz. The measured DC power consumption of the phase shifter is 34.2 mW from a 2 V supply with a smaller chip area of 1.12 mm 2 including all pads.

A 17.8–20.2 GHz Compact Vector-Sum Phase Shifter in 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS Technology for LEO Gateways Receivers

“…Two Gilbert cell-type variable gain amplifiers (VGAs) are then used to create the final vector by adding the current-domain signals at the output nodes with appropriate gains to give the desired phase. This architecture requires at least four digital to analog converters (DACs), one for each VGA that is active at any given time [ 6 , 7 ]. However, for each quadrant, only two different gains need to be controlled, so by switching the DAC that controls each gain, only two DACs are needed.…”

Ku / E dual‐band shared‐aperture antenna array for phased array applications

“…This can shorten the feed path and reduce the difficulty of assembly. [12][13][14] Through integration with a phased array system, the scanning performance of the proposed antenna array is tested.…”

“…Furthermore, in order to improve integration of the E ‐band array, the packaged multi‐channel T/R chips are attached directly to the back of the antenna array. This can shorten the feed path and reduce the difficulty of assembly 12–14 . Through integration with a phased array system, the scanning performance of the proposed antenna array is tested.…”

Variable Temperature Broadband Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Characterization of Electrochromic (WO3/LiNbO3/NiO) Thin Films

“…In contrast, ferroelectrics require high bias voltages although they can achieve very large tuning ratios up to 200% [2]. Similarly, CMOS-based phase shifters can be implemented in a small area with discrete [25] or continuous [26] phase shifts. In both cases large phase shifts are achieved over a limited frequency range, since varactors are made to resonate by either serial or parallel connection with an inductor.…”

“…The equivalent behaviour characterisation at micro-and mm-wave frequencies has not yet been conducted. It is useful to compare the extracted dielectric permittivity and loss tangent of the EC material with other available electronically tunable technologies such as liquid crystals (LCs) [3] - [7], ferroelectrics [1], [2] and CMOS based phase shifters [25], [26]. Among all these, the EC material can be best compared with LCs as they are both bulk-tuneable dielectric materials which can be continuously controlled by a low DC bias voltage (typically around 10 V).…”