Multi-way and poly-phase aligned feed-forward differential phase shifters

Traditional two-way passive differential phase shifters (DPSs) are comprised of a reference line and a delay line. To realize a passive multi-way poly-phase DPS, a single reference line is not possible and a cascaded network becomes necessary. This results in both a cumbersome and complex structure, with large phase error that propagates through the network. A novel phase shifter is presented here that allows multi-way and poly-phase differential phase shift using just one common reference line. This phase shifter is constructed using a newly proposed phase-shift component in all element designs, where each element maintains a constant phase shift with adjacent elements. This characteristic for DPSs offers a simple solution to multi-way poly-phase systems, such as those found in phased arrays. To validate the proposed concept, phase shifters are designed as a group of five different elements operating at 2 GHz, with each maintaining a constant phase shift (45°, 90°, 135°, 180°) compared to a reference element. Measured results agree well with the theoretical analysis. Over a 40% bandwidth the achieved phase shifts are 45° ± 0.9°,90°± 1.5°, 135° ±4°, and 180°±4.2°, while amplitude imbalances are all less than 0.25 dB.