MEMS Tunable Filters & Phase Shifters
- Technology Benefits
- Higher resolution to continuously cover operating band Lower insertion loss Acceptable signal-to-noise ratio
- Technology Application
- W-band tunable filter and phase shifters for low-cost, multi-channel millimeter-wave systems
- Detailed Technology Description
- None
- Supplementary Information
- Patent Number: US7728701B2
Application Number: US2006452114A
Inventor: Lin, Liwei | Sammoura, Firas
Priority Date: 12 Jun 2006
Priority Number: US7728701B2
Application Date: 12 Jun 2006
Publication Date: 1 Jun 2010
IPC Current: H01P0001208 | H01P000118 | H01P000706
US Class: 333209 | 333159 | 333233
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Title: Waveguide-based MEMS tunable filters and phase shifters
Usefulness: Waveguide-based MEMS tunable filters and phase shifters
Summary: Tunable iris filter such as micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) tunable filter for use as phase shifter (claimed) in millimeter wave system in security and sensing system e.g. weather monitoring system, radar system, automobile crush avoidance system, airplane landing guidance system. Also suits for multi-channel communication system, wireless and microwave application and electrically scanned antenna in vehicle.
Novelty: Tunable iris filter for millimeter wave system in e.g. weather monitoring system, has deformable membranes whose movement changes geometry of iris filter cavities to change frequency of signal to be filtered by filter
- Industry
- Environmental/Green Technology
- Sub Category
- Weather Monitoring
- Application No.
- 7728701
- Others
-
Tech ID/UC Case
17657/2006-088-0
Related Cases
2006-088-0
- *Abstract
-
Millimeter-wave systems can be used in many security and sensing applications including weather monitoring, vehicle crash avoidance, and aircraft landing guidance. These systems could significantly benefit from advanced tunable filters, especially for multi-channel communication systems. State-of-art tunable filters use solid-state varactors, but this design approach incurs high insertion loss, unacceptable signal-to-noise ratio, and rendered linearity. Tunable filters can also be designed using RF MEMS technology, however most of the existing designs of this type are discrete, lack the required resolution to continuously cover the desired operating band, and also suffer from high insertion loss.
To address this problem, researchers at UC Berkeley have developed, demonstrated and characterized a new approach to designing W-band tunable filters. Prototypes of this Berkeley filter exhibited a 4.05 GHz bandwidth centered at 94.79 GHz with a minimum insertion loss of 2.37 dB, a return loss better than 15 dB, and a center frequency shift of 2.59 GHz. This novel type of tunable filter can also function in a dual role as a phase shifter. Prototypes achieved a phase shift of 110 degrees at 95 GHz.
- *IP Issue Date
- Jun 1, 2010
- *Principal Investigator
-
Name: Liwei Lin
Department:
Name: Firas Sammoura
Department:
- Country/Region
- USA
