Low Loss/Low Cost Phase Shifters

Electronically steered arrays are becoming increasingly important to meet performance and cost requirements of modern radar and communications systems. Key to successful implementation of these arrays is the availability of low cost, high performance components that are both lightweight and small. This proposal presents a unique microwave frequency phase shifter and the construction technology that will enable high volume, low cost production with a very high performance level. The phase shifter is based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology. Based on work performed in Phase I of this program, Princeton Microwave Technologies, Inc. has developed a Monolithic MEMS Switch Array, that when combined with a low cost RF circuit substrate, will provide a compact, ultra low loss, 3-bit or 4-bit phase shifter, packaged for a ground based radar environment. Because the phase shifter design draws on state of the art, low cost construction technologies, such as those used in cellular telephone RF sections, the device is expected to be manufactured for a very low cost, while maintaining the low insertion loss, and negligible DC power dissipation that comes from MEMS technology. Commercialization will be demonstrated in a complete T/R module for the USAF Geodesic Dome Antenna. In phase I an innovative Multi Use MEM has been developed.