Wave transmission lines and networks – Plural channel systems – Having branched circuits
Patent
1993-04-01
1994-04-19
Gensler, Paul
Wave transmission lines and networks
Plural channel systems
Having branched circuits
333 99S, 505866, H01P 110
Patent
active
053049608
ABSTRACT:
An electronically controlled ferroelectric RF switch is an active medium formed from a ferroelectric material the permittivity, and as such the refractive index, of which may be varied by varying the strength of an electric field in which it is immersed. The ferroelectric RF switch includes the ferroelectric material having electrodes or conductors mounted thereon that are connected to an adjustable d.c. or a.c. voltage source. The switch may be placed in an RF transmission line that includes appropriate input and output impedance matching devices such as quarterwave transformers. The active medium of the RF switch is constructed of two prismatic structures of a ferroelectric material. When the two prisms are at the same zero bias voltage, then the RF energy passing through the switch is not deflected and the switch is in the OFF condition. Application of a bias voltage reduces the permittivity and the refractive index of the outer prismatic structure. The RF energy is refracted away from the normal at the interface between the prismatic surfaces. When the magnitude of the bias voltage is sufficiently high and the permittivity and the refractive index of the outer prismatic structure are sufficiently reduced, total internal reflection of the RF energy takes place at the boundary of the two prismatic surfaces and the switch is switched ON, and the RF energy appears on another port. The ferroelectric RF switch may be embedded as part of a microwave integrated circuit. The ferroelectric RF switch may be constructed of thin ferroelectric film. The copper losses may be reduced by using a high Tc superconductor material as the conducting surface. The ferroelectric material is operated in the paraelectric phase slightly above its Curie temperature. The switch is reciprocal between the conductive ports.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3633123 (1972-01-01), Marcatili
patent: 3741625 (1973-06-01), Saleh
patent: 4034315 (1977-07-01), Unrau
patent: 4252442 (1981-02-01), Dandliker et al.
patent: 4473806 (1984-09-01), Johnston
patent: 5212463 (1993-05-01), Babbitt et al.
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