Abstract: A device for shifting the phase of an electrical signal includes a first microstrip, a second microstrip, and a ground plate. The first microstrip includes an input terminal and the second microstrip includes an output terminal. The second microstrip is spaced apart from the first microstrip such that a microstrip-to-slot transition region is defined between the first microstrip and the second microstrip. The ground plate includes a ground-plate slot that spans the microstrip-to-slot transition region. The ground plate is coupled with the first microstrip and the second microstrip such that at least one of the first microstrip and the second microstrip are movable relative to each other and to the ground plate to adjust a width of the microstrip-to-slot transition region.

Abstract: A class of modular, double-sided, edge-mounted printed circuit (PC) board modules and an associated modular network architecture for constructing stripline signal processing networks including high-power analog amplifiers and beam forming networks for driving multi-beam antenna systems. The stripline signal processing networks are characterized by network elements constructed from defined-length segments of transmission media configured to exhibit precisely determined phase and impedance characteristics. These circuits may also include conventional passive “lumped” electrical elements, such as resistors, capacitors and inductors; non-linear circuit elements such as diodes; and active electrical elements, such as amplifiers and transistors.

Abstract: A dual-polarization wireless base station antenna that implements vertical electrical downtilt and sidelobe reduction using beam steering circuit that includes a variable power divider and a multi-beam beam forming network. The variable power divider includes a single adjustable control element to divide an input voltage signal into a pair of complimentary amplitude voltage drive signals that exhibit matched phase and constant phase delay through the variable power divider. The beam forming network is configured as a double-sided, edge-connected microstrip module mounted to a main panel, which support the antenna elements in a vertical column organized into sub-arrays in a manner that implements sidelobe reduction. The power distribution network connecting the beam steering network to the antenna elements implements beam tilt bias and sidelobe reduction through coordinated phase shifting implemented through transmission media trace length adjustment.

Abstract: Passive intermodulation interference control circuits constructed from distributed elements of defined length and impedance segments of transmission media. The distributed elements can be combined with conventional discrete elements, such as resistors, to create a passive circuit that can be tuned to have a desired frequency response by selecting the size, length and position of the distributed elements. That is, the complete PIM interference control circuit is typically constructed from a combination of discrete and distributed elements and directly connected to or within the transmission media carrying the analog electromagnetic energy through a continuous extension of the transmission media. As such, the PIM interference control circuit can be located very close to the source of the PIM interference, such as the antenna's power divider.