Controllable phase shifter comprising gyromagnetic and non-gyromagnetic sections

Claim 2

A phase shifter for controllably shifting the phase of RF signals by selected amounts comprising: first and second transmission line sections connected in series; said first section including gyromagnetic material and means for controlling the magnetic field in said gyromagnetic material to provide a controllable phase shift; and said second section being non-gyromagnetic and including controllable switching means for reversing the sense of the RF current and hence the phase of RF signals propagating along said second section; said phase shifter designed for said first and second sections to each make a variable contribution to the overall phase shift, that contribution being dependent on the selected overall phase shift.

Claim 3

The phase shifter recited in claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a diode switch network.

Claim 4

The phase shifter recited in claim 2 wherein said second section comprises switching means for changing the path length followed by the RF signal.

Claim 5

The phase shifter recited in claim 1 wherein: said first section provides increments of phase shift up to 90°; and said second section provides 90° and 180° increments of phase shift.

Claim 6

A phase shifter for controllably shifting the phase of RF signals by selected amounts comprising, in combination: a first phase shifting section including a first transmission line, a body of gyromagnetic material and a controllable source of DC magnetic field for providing a controllable phase shift by controlling the DC magnetic field across said body of gyromagnetic material; and a second phase shifting section including non-gyromagnetic RF coupling means in series with said first phase shifting section, said RF coupling means including switching means for selectively altering the phase of said RF signal propagating through said RF coupling means; said phase shifter designed for said first and second sections to each make a variable contribution to the overall phase shift, that contribution being dependent on the selected overall phase shift.

Claim 7

A phase shifter for controllably shifting the phase of RF signals by selected amounts comprising, in combination: a first phase shifting section including a first transmission line, a body of gyromagnetic material and a controllable source of DC magnetic field for providing a controllable phase shift by controlling the DC magnetic field across said body of gyromagnetic material; and a second phase shifting section including non-gyromagnetic RF coupling means in series with said first phase shifting section, said RF coupling means including switching means for selectively altering the phase of said RF signal propagating through said RF coupling means; said phase shifter designed for said first and second sections to each make a variable contribution to the overall phase shift, that contribution being dependent on the selected overall phase shift.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5 wherein said switching means includes diode switches.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 5 wherein said RF coupling means includes switching means for changing the path length of the RF signal.

Claim 10

A phase shifter for controllably shifting the phase of RF signals by selected amounts comprising, in combination: a first phase shifting section including a first transmission line, a body of gyromagnetic material and DC magnetic field biasing means providing DC magnetic field bias across said body and consequently phase shift dependent upon the level of a first control signal; a second phase shifting section including non-gyromagnetic RF coupling means connected in series with said first phase shifting section and including alternate signal paths which produce alternate phase shifts and switch means responsive to a second control signal for controlling the signal path and hence the phase shift of the RF signal through said RF coupling means; and means for providing said first and second control signals to said first phase shifting section and said switch means, respectively, said first and second control signals each being dependent on the selected amount of overall phase shift.

Claim 11

A phase shifter for controllably shifting the phase of RF signals by selected amounts comprising, in combination: a first phase shifting section including a first transmission line, a body of gyromagnetic material and DC magnetic field biasing means providing DC magnetic field bias across said body and consequently phase shift dependent upon the level of a first control signal; a second phase shifting section including non-gyromagnetic RF coupling means connected in series with said first phase shifting section and including alternate signal paths which produce alternate phase shifts and switch means responsive to a second control signal for controlling the signal path and hence the phase shift of the RF signal through said RF coupling means; and means for providing said first and second control signals to said first phase shifting section and said switch means, respectively, said first and second control signals each being dependent on the selected amount of overall phase shift.