Wideband attenuation and phase controller

摘要

A continuously manually or remotely adjustable microwave attenuator and linear phase shifter is made using a two section slabline structure in which a “U” formed center conductor forms a line—stretcher to adjust the transmission phase and slivers of ferromagnetic material are inserted into the magnetic field of the slabline, or thin layers of dielectric material are inserted into the electric field serving either way to reducing the amplitude of the transmission factor, or increase the attenuation. The unit is manually or remotely controlled, in which case its transmission behavior can be calibrated on a VNA and used in test software for automated differential load pull operations.

主权项

1. A continuously variable microwave attenuator and phase shifter comprising a cascade of an adjustable attenuator and a linear phase shifter;
whereby
said attenuator comprises a parallel plate airline (slabline) having an input and an output port and a center conductor between said ports; and a ferromagnetic sliver being insertable perpendicularly to the axis of said center conductor of said slabline, wherein said sliver captures the magnetic field inside said slabline; and whereby
said phase shifter comprises the input port and the output port and the slabline between said ports; and a “U” shaped center conductor between said ports; said slabline comprising two adjacent sections, the first section being connected to said ports and the second section being attached to the first section;said “U” shaped center conductor comprising two sections:
a first, fixed section comprising two parallel straight pieces of tubular center conductor with one piece being the center conductor of the attenuator, associated with the first section of said slabline, said pieces being connected to a phase shifter port each;and a second, mobile “U” shaped section of solid center conductor, associated with the second section of slabline and of which each leg is insertable into the corresponding tubular pieces of center conductor associated with the first slabline section.