Mechanical Tuning Phase Shifter Based on Adjustable Substrate

Abstract

In this study, a mechanical movable device is used to achieve a mechanical tuning phase shifter with adjustable substrate, which has a huge potentiality of tuning range. The main body of phase shifter is microstrip structure. The substrate has two layers with one movable layer. By moving the movable layer, the equivalent relative permittivity of component is changed and tunability is realized. The phase is -128.2° to 96.1° at 6GHz while the transmission coefficient S₂₁ is from -2.09dB to -2.70dB throughout the entire tuning process. The movable layer is better to be with high relative permittivity and relative permeability to reach a wider tuning range.