Digital electromagnetic wave phase shifter comprising switchable reflectively terminated power-dividing means

Claim 2

Electromagnetic wave phase shifting means comprising a directional coupler having first port means for passing input and output electromagnetic waves, and at least three other ports, and electromagnetic wave reflective means coupled to each of said other ports, said reflective means each being selectively changeable to effect at least two different reflection coefficients thereby providing any of at least eight output wave phase states.

Claim 3

The phase-shifting means according to claim 1 wherein one of said wave-reflective means comprises power-dividing means having a plurality of ports, and other switchAble reflective means respectively coupled to said last-named ports.

Claim 4

The phase-shifting means according to claim 1 wherein each of said reflective means includes switchable load means to effect either of two different reflection coefficient angles at their respective ports.

Claim 5

The phase-shifting means according to claim 3 wherein each of said reflective means includes switch means and predetermined impedance means.

Claim 6

The phase-shifting means according to claim 3 wherein each of said reflective means includes transmission line means, switch means coupled to said line means to provide a predetermined length of said line at the associated port when the switch means is closed and to provide another predetermined length of said line when said switch means is open, and means for selectively switching said switch means between its closed and open states.

Claim 7

The phase-shifting means according to claim 5 wherein each of said switch means comprises a diode.

Claim 8

Electromagnetic wave phase shifting means of the reflection type comprising power-dividing means including first-port means for passing input and output electromagnetic waves, and exactly three other ports, three wave-reflective means including respectively three impedance means coupled respectively to said three ports, each of said impedance means having exactly two impedance values, three switch means respectively connected to said impedance means for switching its associated impedance means from one of its values to the other, said wave-reflective means being individually selectively operable to provide any one of eight phase shifts of said output wave.

Claim 9

Electromagnetic wave phase shifting means of the reflection type comprising power-dividing means including first-port means for passing input and output electromagnetic waves, and exactly three other ports, three wave-reflective means including respectively three impedance means coupled respectively to said three ports, each of said impedance means having exactly two impedance values, three switch means respectively connected to said impedance means for switching its associated impedance means from one of its values to the other, said wave-reflective means being individually selectively operable to provide any one of eight phase shifts of said output wave.

Claim 10

The phase-shifting means according to claim 7 wherein each of said switch means comprises a solid-state diode, and control signal means for controlling the conductivity of the diode.

Claim 11

The phase-shifting means according to claim 7 wherein said power-dividing means comprises directional coupler means, each of said reflective means including switchable load means to effect either of two different reflection coefficient angles at its respective port.

Claim 12

An electromagnetic wave phase shifting means of the reflection type comprising a directional coupler having at least four ports including first-port means for passing input-incident and output-reflective waves, and second, third and fourth ports, said second port being directly connected to said first port, said third port being isolated with respect to said first port, and said fourth port being coupled with respect to said first port, whereby incident power flowing into said first port flows directly to said second and fourth ports, and said third port receives power substantially only from said second and fourth ports; first, second and third switchable wave-reflective means coupled to said second, third and fourth ports, respectively, each of said reflective means having at least two states providing at least two reflection coefficient angles at the port coupled thereto, and means for individually selectively switching said reflective means to selectively provide at least five different combinations of reflection coefficient angles at said second, third and fourth ports to selectively permit any one of at least five phase shifts of the output-reflective wave at said first port, the ratio of the power division between said second and fourth ports and the relative values of said reflection coefficients being chosen to provide output wave phase shifts in substantially angularly equal incremental steps.

Claim 13

An electromagnetic wave phase shifting means of the reflection type comprising a directional coupler having at least four ports including first-port means for passing input-incident and output-reflective waves, and second, third and fourth ports, said second port being directly connected to said first port, said third port being isolated with respect to said first port, and said fourth port being coupled with respect to said first port, whereby incident power flowing into said first port flows directly to said second and fourth ports, and said third port receives power substantially only from said second and fourth ports; first, second and third switchable wave-reflective means coupled to said second, third and fourth ports, respectively, each of said reflective means having at least two states providing at least two reflection coefficient angles at the port coupled thereto, and means for individually selectively switching said reflective means to selectively provide at least five different combinations of reflection coefficient angles at said second, third and fourth ports to selectively permit any one of at least five phase shifts of the output-reflective wave at said first port, the ratio of the power division between said second and fourth ports and the relative values of said reflection coefficients being chosen to provide output wave phase shifts in substantially angularly equal incremental steps.

Claim 14

The phase-shifting means according to claim 10 wherein each of said reflective means includes reactance means switchable between two reactance values.

Claim 15

The phase-shifting means according to claim 10 wherein each of said reflective means includes a diode and two different lengths of transmission line.

Claim 16

The phase-shifting means according to claim 10 wherein the ratio of the power division between said second and fourth ports is chosen to provide a coupling ratio substantially less tHan 3db.

Claim 17

The phase-shifting means according to claim 13 wherein each of said reflective means has exactly two states providing exactly two reflection coefficient angles at the port coupled thereto and wherein the ratio of the power division between said second and fourth ports and the relative values of said reflection coefficients are chosen to provide output wave phase shifts in eight substantially angularly equal incremental steps.