Abstract: A transmission line allows transmitting a radio frequency signal along a first electrode and a second electrode. The electrodes are for most of a length of the transmission line spaced apart at a distance along a first transverse direction from each other and arranged perpendicular to a propagation direction of the signal. Loading capacitors are arranged in between the two electrodes. A bent section in which the signal is propagated from a first end to a second end of the bent section changes the signal from a first propagation direction to a second propagation direction. The transmission line comprises a compensation section for adjusting a phase difference of the radio frequency signal in the bent section. In the compensation section a first section of the first electrode overlaps a first section of the second electrode in the first transverse direction, thereby forming a loading capacitor.

Abstract: A phased array antenna device comprises antenna elements arranged in a spatial distribution to emit and receive superposing radio frequency signals to and from different directions. Each antenna element is positioned within a corresponding unit cell. The unit cells are arranged in a non-overlapping manner next to each other. A feeding network for transmitting the antenna signals between a common feeding point and the respective antenna element comprises a plurality of antenna element transmission line segments each running into an antenna element and a corresponding plurality of phase shifting devices. The feeding transmission line segments each comprises more than two transition structures distributed along the feeding transmission line segment.

Abstract: A phased array antenna device comprises antenna elements positioned within a corresponding unit cell. The unit cells are arranged non-overlappingly next to each other. A feeding network transmits antenna signals between a common control unit and the respective antenna element. The feeding network comprises a plurality of antenna element transmission line segments, each running into an antenna element, and a plurality of phase shifting devices. Several feeding transmission line segments, each comprising more than two transition structures are provided. Each transition structure couples a signal into a corresponding antenna element transmission line segment. The transition structure for an antenna element transmission line segment that runs into a unit cell is positioned in the direction of the feeding transmission line segment passing by or traversing this unit cell at a phase shifting distance that is larger than an extension of the unit cell measured in this direction.

Abstract: A transition unit of a radio frequency device provides a transition between a planar differential pair transmission line and a hollow radio frequency waveguide. It comprises a substrate layer arrangement with a planar differential pair transmission line arranged on one or more surfaces of at least one substrate layer, whereby an end section of the differential pair transmission line is configured as a radio frequency signal transition pattern. It further comprises an end section of a waveguide that is attached to the substrate layer arrangement and that superposes the radio frequency signal transition pattern. The waveguide is directed perpendicular to the substrate layer arrangement. An open end of the end section of the waveguide is attached to a first outer surface or a second outer surface of the substrate layer arrangement. The transition pattern comprises open loop shaped end sections of a first and second transmission line segment.

Abstract: A transition unit providing a radio frequency signal transition between a radio frequency hollow waveguide system and a planar transmission line comprises two or more transition sections of transmission line arranged adjacent to each other at a first surface of the first substrate layer of a substrate layer arrangement. The hollow waveguide system comprises a distribution section. One input waveguide is separated into one dedicated output waveguide for each of the transition sections. For each of the transition sections of the transmission lines a corresponding end section of a respective output waveguide is directed perpendicular to the first surface of the first substrate layer. For each end section an open end of the end section of the waveguide system superposes the corresponding transition section. The two or more end sections are arranged adjacent to each other in order to provide for favorable boundary conditions for electromagnetic wave propagation.

Abstract: A transition unit of a radio frequency device provides a transition between a planar differential pair transmission line and a hollow radio frequency waveguide. A substrate layer arrangement with a planar differential pair transmission line is arranged on one or more surfaces of at least one substrate layer. An end section of the transmission line is configured as a radio frequency signal emission pattern. The transition unit has an end section of a waveguide for electromagnetic waves that is attached to the substrate layer arrangement and superposes the radio frequency signal emission pattern. The waveguide is directed perpendicular to the substrate layer arrangement. An open end of the end section of the waveguide is attached to a first outer surface or a second outer surface of the substrate layer arrangement. Opposite to the end section a back cavity is attached with an open end towards the substrate layer arrangement.

Abstract: A layer arrangement for a phased array antenna comprises phase shifting units arranged between stacked dielectric layers with a tunable dielectric material sandwiched in-between. Each phase shifting unit comprises a transmission line with phase shifting capabilities that is electrically connected with bias lines to a biasing circuit. A dielectric layer is made from an optically transparent material. An overlapping section of the bias lines of each of the phase shifting units is made from an optically transparent and electroconductive material. The tunable dielectric material affects the transmission or reflection of light that illuminates the tunable dielectric material depending on the respective tuning state.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a radio frequency device modifies a radio frequency signal along electroconductive elements by changing dielectric material properties of a tunable dielectric material. The method includes: emitting a light beam through an optically transparent first substrate layer into a test volume of the tunable dielectric material with an inbound light intensity and/or inbound phase; applying a bias field to a test volume via a first transparent test electrode arranged at the first substrate layer and a second test electrode arranged opposite the first test electrode at a second substrate layer; measuring an outgoing light intensity and/or an outgoing phase of the light beam; and determining a property of the tunable dielectric material based on the outgoing light intensity and the incoming light intensity and/or based on a phase relation between the inbound phase and the outgoing phase of the light beam from the bias field.

Abstract: A two-dimensional (2-D) beam steerable phased array antenna is presented comprising a continuously electronically steerable material including a tunable material or a variable dielectric material, preferred a liquid crystal material. A compact antenna architecture including a patch antenna array, tunable phase shifters, a feed network and a bias network is proposed. Similar to the LC display, the proposed antenna is fabricated by using automated manufacturing techniques and therefore the fabrication costs are reduced considerably.

Abstract: An antenna array has a signal distribution region and a signal emission region. The signal distribution region has a distribution body made from a dielectric material which converts an information signal, fed into an infeed side thereof, into a spatially distributed signal distribution on an opposite distribution side. The signal emission region has a plurality of signal emission elements distributed over the distribution side. The signal emission elements protrude from the distribution body. At least one signal emission element has a phase shift region, in which a phase shift material with an electrically influenceable permittivity is arranged in the signal emission element. By applying a phase shift voltage between at least one pair of electrodes, the permittivity of the phase shift material is influenced and thereby the propagation speed of an electromagnetic signal in the phase shift region is changed.

Abstract: An antenna device (1) for emitting electromagnetic waves has a waveguide (2), which in turn has two plates (3) made of an electrically conductive material and arranged parallel to one another, between which a dielectric material is arranged. The antenna device (1) has a feed-in device (4), with which electromagnetic waves can be coupled into the waveguide (2), which then propagate along the waveguide (2) and are emitted at an edge (5) of the waveguide (2) at a distance from the feed-in device (4). According to the invention, using a control device of the antenna device (1), the dielectric material can be influenced in such a way that a first region (9) having a first permittivity and at least one second region (10) having a second permittivity are formed, such that the electromagnetic waves coupled into the waveguide (2) propagate preferably through the first region (9) and are emitted in this preferred propagation direction (11).

Abstract: A phase shifting device with a linear transmission line comprises a first electrode and a second electrode that are spaced at a distance from each other. A tunable dielectric material is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. The transmission line comprises several overlapping section. An overlapping area of the first electrode overlaps an overlapping area of the second electrode in order to provide a parallel plate capacitor area that affects the phase of an electromagnetic signal that propagates along the transmission line. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected to a bias voltage source with bias electrodes which consist of a material with a lower electrical conductivity that that of the first and second electrode.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes several antenna elements and a signal feed entry from or to which a signal is transmitted to or from the antenna elements. A phase shifting device modifies a phase difference of the signal that is transmitted from the signal feed network to the respective antenna element or that is transmitted from the respective antenna element to the signal feed network to adjust the preferred direction of radiation of the phased array antenna. A bias voltage is applied to each phase shifting device via two bias voltage electrode lines that are connected to a bias voltage driver. The bias voltage driver has several output channel terminal pairs with two output channel terminals to apply a tunable output channel voltage difference to each terminal pair. The two bias voltage electrode lines of each phase shifting device are connected to a respective terminal pair.

Abstract: A phase shift device includes a planar transmission line that is formed by a signal electrode and a ground electrode which are separated by a dielectric substance, whereby the signal electrode of the planar transmission line is divided into several pieces and includes overlapping areas of adjacent pieces that are filled with a tunable liquid crystal material, thereby forming a dielectric tunable component (varactor) with a metal-insulator-metal type capacitor. The several pieces of the signal electrode are arranged at two or more different distance levels with respect to the ground electrode. The tunable liquid crystal material is arranged as a continuous layer between several pieces of the signal electrode that are arranged at two different distance levels.

Abstract: A two-dimensional (2-D) beam steerable phased array antenna is presented comprising a continuously electronically steerable material including a tunable material or a variable dielectric material, preferred a liquid crystal material. A compact antenna architecture including a patch antenna array, tunable phase shifters, a feed network and a bias network is proposed. Similar to the LC display, the proposed antenna is fabricated by using automated manufacturing techniques and therefore the fabrication costs are reduced considerably.

Abstract: A two-dimensional (2-D) beam steerable phased array antenna is presented comprising a continuously electronically steerable material including a tunable material or a variable dielectric material, preferred a liquid crystal material. A compact antenna architecture including a patch antenna array, tunable phase shifters, a feed network and a bias network is proposed. Similar to the LC display, the proposed antenna is fabricated by using automated manufacturing techniques and therefore the fabrication costs are reduced considerably.

Abstract: A phase shift device includes a planar transmission line that is formed by a signal electrode and a ground electrode which are separated by a dielectric substance, whereby the signal electrode of the planar transmission line is divided into several pieces and includes overlapping areas of adjacent pieces that are filled with a tunable liquid crystal material, thereby forming a dielectric tunable component (varactor) with a metal-insulator-metal type capacitor. The several pieces of the signal electrode are arranged at two or more different distance levels with respect to the ground electrode. The tunable liquid crystal material is arranged as a continuous layer between several pieces of the signal electrode that are arranged at two different distance levels.

Abstract: A phase shift device includes a planar transmission line that is formed by a signal electrode and a ground electrode which are separated by a dielectric substance, whereby the signal electrode of the planar transmission line is divided into several pieces and includes overlapping areas of adjacent pieces that are filled with a tunable liquid crystal material, thereby forming a dielectric tunable component (varactor) with a metal-insulator-metal type capacitor. The several pieces of the signal electrode are arranged at two or more different distance levels with respect to the ground electrode. The tunable liquid crystal material is arranged as a continuous layer between several pieces of the signal electrode that are arranged at two different distance levels.