Restriction lift date: 2029-12-31
Design techniques for compact and multi-functional differential and reflection-type RF-MEMS enabled phase shifters
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Date
2026-05-28
Authors
Guo, Zehan
Journal Title
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Publisher
University College Cork
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Abstract
Future wireless systems (i.e., 6G) will integrate terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) to deliver global connectivity. Their deployment requires high capacity, adaptable NTN links supported by advanced antenna arrays capable of dynamic beam reconfiguration to address long propagation distances and mobility. Conventional beamsteering relies on numerous phase shifters within large antenna arrays, leading to complex, bulky, and costly implementations. New design strategies are therefore needed to meet modern system requirements.
This dissertation investigates RF and electromagnetic design methodologies for the realization of differential power divider-based phase shifters and reflection type phase shifters (RTPSs) using RF-switched bandpass filter-based reflective loads. They are enabled by commercially-available RF microelectromechanical system (RF-MEMS) switches with reduced system size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) through multilayer printed-circuit-board (PCB) implementations. Specifically, this thesis lays the foundations for: i) differential phase shifters that simultaneously provide phase shifting and power division functionalities to support multiple antenna elements through a single RF component, ii) RTPSs capable of directing beams from different frequency channels toward distinct directions through definable phase-frequency profiles, iii) commercially-available RF-MEMS enabled X-band design techniques compatible with multilayer RF PCB substrates.
Key experimental demonstrations of this work include i) a single phase shifter enabling beamsteering of four- or eight-element arrays in two or four distinct directions, eliminating the need for per-element phase shifters and additional power dividers, ii) an RTPS with definable phase-frequency profile, allowing multi-channel simultaneous beamsteering and eliminating the need for energy hungry and costly digital beamforming techniques in mobile user tracking and inter-beam hand-off applications, iii) validated operation at 7.5–9.16 GHz, representing the highest demonstrated frequency range for phase shifters based on commercially-available RF-MEMS technologies.
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Keywords
Phase shifter , Power divider , Reconfigurable , RF-MEMS switch , Tunable phase shifter
Citation
Guo, Z. 2026. Design techniques for compact and multi-functional differential and reflection-type RF-MEMS enabled phase shifters. MRes Thesis, University College Cork.