Abstract: A composition for use in electrodeposition includes a resin blend, a coalescing solvent, a catalyst, water, and a highly cross-linked microgel, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is the highly cross-linked microgel. Another composition for use in electrodeposition includes a surfactant blend, a low ion polyol, phenoxypropanol, a catalyst, water, a flexibilizer, and a highly cross-linked microgel, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is the highly cross-linked microgel.

Abstract: A circuit board includes an electrically conductive sheet having an insulative coating surrounding the conductive sheet, with a surface of the insulative coating around an edge of the conductive sheet having an arcuate or rounded shape. At least one electrical conductor is conformally deposited on at least the rounded insulative coating around the edge of the conductive sheet and defined via photolithographic and metallization techniques. Each electrical conductor on the insulative coating thereon around the edge of the conductive sheet conforms to the arcuate or rounded shape of the insulative coating and, therefore, has an arcuate or rounded shape.

Abstract: A circuit board or each circuit board of a multi-layer circuit board includes an electrically conductive sheet coated with an insulating top layer covering one surface of the conductive sheet, an insulating bottom layer covering another surface of the conductive sheet and an insulating edge layer covering an edge of the conductive sheet. An insulating interlayer can be sandwiched between a pair of adjacent circuit boards of a multi-layer circuit board assembly. A landless through-hole or via can extend through one or more of the circuit boards for connecting electrical conductors on opposing surfaces thereof.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating a multi-layer circuit assembly and a multi-layer circuit assembly fabricated by such processes are provided. The process includes (a) providing a substrate at least one area of which comprises a plurality of vias, these area(s) having a via density of 500 to 10,000 holes/square inch (75 to 1550 holes/square centimeter); (b) applying a dielectric coating onto all exposed surfaces of the substrate to form a conformal coating thereon; and (c) applying a layer of metal to all surfaces of the substrate. Additional processing steps such as circuitization may be included.

Abstract: A method includes: immersing a semiconductive substrate in an electrodeposition composition, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is a highly cross-linked microgel component, and applying a voltage between the substrate and the composition to form a dielectric coating on the substrate. A composition for use in electrodeposition includes a resin blend, a coalescing solvent, a catalyst, water, and a highly cross-linked migrogel, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is the highly cross-linked microgel. Another composition for use in electrodeposition includes a surfactant blend, a low ion polyol, phenoxypropanol, a catalyst, water, a flexibilizer, and a highly cross-linked migrogel, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is the highly cross-linked microgel.

Abstract: A method is provided comprising: coating an electrically conductive core with a first removable material, creating openings in the first removable material to expose portions of the electrically conductive core, plating a conductive material onto the exposed portions of the electrically conductive core, coating the conductive material with a second removable material, removing the first removable material, electrophoretically coating the electrically conductive core with a dielectric coating, and removing the second removable material.

Abstract: A tunable phase shifter includes a waveguide, a finline substrate positioned within the waveguide, a tunable dielectric layer positioned on the finline substrate, a first conductor positioned on the tunable dielectric layer, and a second conductor positioned on the tunable dielectric layer, with the first and second conductors being separated to form a gap. By controlling a voltage applied to the tunable dielectric material, the phase of a signal passing through the waveguide can be controlled.

Abstract: A phase shifter includes a substrate, a tunable dielectric film having a dielectric constant between 70 to 600, a tuning range of 20 to 60%, and a loss tangent between 0.008 to 0.03 at K and Ka bands positioned on a surface of the substrate, a coplanar waveguide positioned on a surface of the tunable dielectric film opposite the substrate, an input for coupling a radio frequency signal to the coplanar waveguide, an output for receiving the radio frequency signal from the coplanar waveguide, and a connection for applying a control voltage to the tunable dielectric film. A reflective termination coplanar waveguide phase shifter including a substrate, a tunable dielectric film having a dielectric constant between 70 to 600, a tuning range of 20 to 60%, and a loss tangent between 0.008 to 0.

Abstract: A tunable dielectric structure includes a first layer of dielectric material, a second layer of dielectric material positioned adjacent to the first layer of dielectric material, with the second layer of dielectric material having a dielectric constant that is less than the dielectric constant of the first layer of dielectric material, and electrodes for applying a controllable voltage across the first dielectric material, thereby controlling a dielectric constant of the first dielectric material, wherein at least one of the electrodes is positioned between the first and second layers of dielectric material. The dielectric materials can be formed in various shapes and assembled in various orientations with respect to each other. The tunable dielectric structure is used in various devices including coaxial cables, cavity antennas, microstrip lines, coplanar lines, and waveguides.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit includes a conductor line having an input port and an output port, a ground conductor, a tunable dielectric material positioned between a first section of the conductor line and the ground conductor, a non-tunable dielectric material positioned between a second section of the conductor line and the ground conductor, and means for applying a DC voltage between the conductor line and the ground conductor. The impedance matching circuit may alternatively include a first planar ground conductor, a second planar ground conductor, a strip conductor having an input port and an output port, and positioned between the first and second planar ground conductors to define first and second gaps, the first gap being positioned between the strip conductor and the first planar ground conductor and the second gap being positioned between the strip conductor and the second planar ground conductor.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a plurality of radiating elements, a feed line assembly, a ground plane positioned between the plurality of radiating elements and the feed line assembly, with the ground plane having a plurality of openings positioned between the plurality of radiating elements and the feed line assembly, and a plurality of voltage tunable dielectric phase shifters coupled to the feed line assembly.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled tunable filter includes at least two cavity resonators electrically coupled to each other. A voltage tunable dielectric capacitor is positioned within each of the resonators. Connections are provided for applying a control voltage to the voltage tunable dielectric capacitors. An input is coupled to the one of the resonators, and an output is coupled to the other resonator.

Abstract: A waveguide to microstrip T-junction includes a microstrip transmission line structure having a ground plane separated from a strip conductor by a dielectric layer, the ground plane defining an aperture; a waveguide channel having a conductive periphery being electrically coupled to the ground plane to provide a waveguide short circuit wall located at the end of the waveguide channel; at least one conducting ridge inside the waveguide channel; and an end of the ridge being electrically coupled with the ground plane.

Abstract: A tunable dielectric structure includes a first layer of dielectric material, a second layer of dielectric material positioned adjacent to the first layer of dielectric material, with the second layer of dielectric material having a dielectric constant that is less than the dielectric constant of the first layer of dielectric material, and electrodes for applying a controllable voltage across the first dielectric material, thereby controlling a dielectric constant of the first dielectric material, wherein at least one of the electrodes is positioned between the first and second layers of dielectric material. The dielectric materials can be formed in various shapes and assembled in various orientations with respect to each other. The tunable dielectric structure is used in various devices including coaxial cables, cavity antennas, microstrip lines, coplanar lines, and waveguides.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a phased array antenna and the calibrated phased array antenna are described herein. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method for calibrating a phased array antenna containing a plurality of electronically tunable phase shifters each of which is coupled to a column of radiating elements includes the steps of: (a) characterizing each of the electronically tunable phase shifters; (b) calculating phase offsets for each column of radiating elements using a nearfield antenna range and the characterized data for each of the electronically tunable phase shifters; and (c) using the calculated phase offsets in a calibration table to adjust the tuning voltage of each of the electronically tunable phase shifters to cause the columns of radiating elements to yield a uniform beam.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit includes a conductor line having an input port and an output port, a ground conductor, a tunable dielectric material positioned between a first section of the conductor line and the ground conductor, a non-tunable dielectric material positioned between a second section of the conductor line and the ground conductor, and means for applying a DC voltage between the conductor line and the ground conductor. The impedance matching circuit may alternatively include a first planar ground conductor, a second planar ground conductor, a strip conductor having an input port and an output port, and positioned between the first and second planar ground conductors to define first and second gaps, the first gap being positioned between the strip conductor and the first planar ground conductor and the second gap being positioned between the strip conductor and the second planar ground conductor.

Abstract: This invention provides a phased array antenna comprising an input, a feed network electronically coupled to the input, a plurality of radiating elements, a plurality of continuously voltage tunable phase shifters for receiving signals from the feed network and providing phase shifts for the signals prior to transmitting the signals to the radiating elements, and a controller for controlling the phase shift provided by the phase shifters. The phased array antennas can be configured to produce beams that can be scanned in one dimension (one-dimensional) or two dimensions (two-dimensional) by using continuously adjustable phase shifters that are based on low cost, low loss voltage-tunable dielectric materials.

Abstract: This invention provides a phased array antenna comprising an input, a feed network electronically coupled to the input, a plurality of radiating elements, a plurality of continuously voltage tunable phase shifters for receiving signals from the feed network and providing phase shifts for the signals prior to transmitting the signals to the radiating elements, and a controller for controlling the phase shift provided by the phase shifters. The phased array antennas can be configured to produce beams that can be scanned in one dimension (one-dimensional) or two dimensions (two-dimensional) by using continuously adjustable phase shifters that are based on low cost, low loss voltage-tunable dielectric materials.

Abstract: A voltage tunable dielectric varactor includes a tunable ferroelectric layer and first and second non-tunable dielectric layers. First and second electrodes positioned adjacent to the tunable ferroelectric layer form a tunable capacitor. A third electrode is positioned adjacent to the first non-tunable dielectric layer such that the third and first electrodes and the first non-tunable dielectric layer form a first blocking capacitor. A fourth electrode is positioned adjacent to the second non-tunable dielectric layer such that the fourth and second electrodes and the second non-tunable dielectric layer form a second blocking capacitor. The first and second electrodes can be positioned on a surface of the tunable ferroelectric layer opposite the generally planar surface of the substrate, with the first and second electrodes being separated to form a gap. The first and second non-tunable dielectric layers can also be positioned on the generally planar surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a non-metallic waveguide, a tunable component mounted within the waveguide, and a conductive layer on a surface of the waveguide. The tunable component can comprise a tunable filter. The non-metallic waveguide can comprise a plastic material. Connections for applying a tuning voltage to the tunable component can be provided. A temperature sensor can be connected to the waveguide.