An All-Pass Topology to Design a 0-360° Continuous Phase Shifter with Low Insertion Loss and Constant Differential Phase Shift

International audienceIn this paper, an analog phase shifter is designed by using a novel all-pass topology. The phase shift can be continuously adjusted from 0 up to 380° by biasing varactor-diodes while maintaining the differential phase shift constant across the 6.7 GHz - 7.7 GHz band. This two-stage circuit is simple and compact with respectively insertion losses of 2.9 dB +- 1.3 dB, return losses better than 9.4 dB and a differential phase shift flatness of +- 11° in the worst case. With a 90.5°/dB Figure-of-Merit, this topology presents an interesting trade-off between low-cost, low loss, large phase-shift range, phase flatness and bandwidth. Measurements are discussed and carefully compared to current competing topologies