Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention is provided a varactor comprising a substrate, a bottom electrode positioned on a surface of the substrate, a tunable dielectric material positioned adjacent to and extending over the bottom electrode forming a step and in contact with a top electrode, and an interconnect layer in contact with the bottom electrode, the tunable dielectric and the top electrode.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of modeling electrostrictive effects and acoustic resonances in a tunable capacitor, comprising adjusting empirically the characteristic impedances and complex propagation constants to account for actual process variations in manufacturing of said tunable capacitor; adjusting empirically the characteristic impedances and complex propagation constants to account for end-effects in the directions transversal to the wave direction; and modeling the electrostrictive effect by dividing a BST layer of said tunable capacitor into thin layers or slices with each slice's thickness representing a small fraction of an acoustic wavelength and injecting at each junction between slices, an acoustic “current” proportional to the electrical current through said voltage tunable capacitor.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention is provided a method of manufacturing a varactor, comprising providing a substrate; positioning a bottom electrode on a surface of the substrate; placing a tunable dielectric material adjacent to and extending over the bottom electrode forming a step and in contact with a top electrode; placing an interconnect layer in contact with the bottom electrode, the tunable dielectric and the top electrode.

Abstract: The production of low-loss, tunable composite ceramic materials with improved breakdown strengths is disclosed. The composite materials comprise ferroelectric perovskites such as barium strontium titanate or other ferroelectric perovskites combined with other phases such as low-loss silicate materials and/or other low-loss oxides. The composite materials are produced in sheet or tape form by methods such as tape casting. The composite tapes exhibit favorable tunability, low loss and tailorable dielectric properties, and can be used in various microwave devices.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a radio frequency switch capable of using tunable dielectric capacitors as the switching element. The apparatus may further comprise a cross connector connecting a plurality of ports and wherein at least one of the tunable dielectric capacitors may placed between the cross connector at and least one port, thereby enabling impedance variations between the cross connector and the ports. Further, an embodiment of the present invention may provide at least one T connector between the cross connector and at least one of the plurality of ports, wherein at least one tunable dielectric capacitor may be associated with the T connector to vary the impedance in at least one node of the T connector.

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: This invention provides a voltage tunable filter comprising an input connection point, an output connection point, and at least one circuit branch electrically coupled to the input connection point and the output connection point and including a voltage tunable dielectric varactor electrically connected to an inductor. The voltage tunable filter can be one of a low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, or band-stop filter. The varactor can include built-in DC blocking capacitors.

Abstract: The production of low-loss, tunable composite ceramic materials with improved breakdown strengths is disclosed. The composite materials comprise ferroelectric perovskites such as barium strontium titanate or other ferroelectric perovskites combined with other phases such as low-loss silicate materials and/or other low-loss oxides. The composite materials are produced in sheet or tape form by methods such as tape casting. The composite tapes exhibit favorable tunability, low loss and tailorable dielectric properties, and can be used in various microwave devices.

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 radio frequency electronic filter includes an input, an output, and first and second resonators coupled to the input and the output, with the first resonator including a first voltage tunable dielectric varactor and the second resonator including a second voltage tunable dielectric varactor. The resonators can include a lumped element resonator, a ceramic resonator, or a microstrip resonator. Additional voltage tunable dielectric varactors can be connected between the input and the first resonator and between the second resonator and the output. Voltage tunable dielectric varactors can also be connected between the first and second resonators.

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 packaged semiconductor chip comprising a first semiconductor chip 120 having an upwardly-facing front face 145, a downwardly-facing rear face 155, edges 160 bounding the faces and contacts 150 exposed at the front surface 145, the first semiconductor chip 120 including active components. The packaged semiconductor chip 100 further includes a connecting element 105 which may include passive components, the connecting element 105 may be electrically connected to at least some of the contacts 150, the connecting element 105 overlying the front face 145 of the first chip 120 and projecting outwardly beyond the edges 160 of the first chip 120.

Abstract: Electronically tunable dielectric materials having favorable properties are disclosed. The electronically tunable materials include an electronically tunable dielectric phase such as barium strontium titanate in combination with at least two additional metal oxide phases. The additional metal oxide phases may include, for example, oxides of Mg, Si, Ca, Zr, Ti and Al. The electronically tunable materials may be provided in bulk, thin film and thick film forms for use in devices such as phased array antennas, tunable filters and the like. The materials are useful in many applications, including the area of radio frequency engineering and design.

Abstract: Electronically tunable thick film composites of tunable phases such as barium strontium titanate and additional dielectric oxide phases are disclosed. The composite thick films can contain multiple phases such as barium strontium titanate and MgTiO3, Mg2SiO4, CaSiO3, MgO, MgZrO3, CaTiO3, MgAl2O4, and MgSrZrTiO6. The thick films may contain further additives such as zirconnates, stannates, rare earths, niobates and tantalates, for example, CaZrO3, BaZrO3, SrZrO3, BaSnO3, CaSnO3, MgSnO3, Bi2O3/2SnO2, Nd2O3, Pr7O11, Yb2O3, Ho2O3, La2O3, MgNb2O6, SrNb2O6, BaNb2O6, MgTa2O6, BaTa2O6, and Ta2O3 to improve the electronic and microwave properties of the thick film composites. The particle size of these films may be controlled in order to optimize the electronic and microwave properties. The electronically tunable thick film composites may be made by techniques such as screen-printing or spray deposition.

Abstract: Electronically tunable dielectric materials having favorable properties are disclosed. The electronically tunable materials include an electronically tunable dielectric phase such as barium strontium titanate in combination with at least two additional metal oxide phases. The additional metal oxide phases may include, for example, oxides of Mg, Si, Ca, Zr, Ti and Al. The electronically tunable materials may be provided in bulk, thin film and thick film forms for use in devices such as phased array antennas, tunable filters and the like. The materials are useful in many applications, including the area of radio frequency engineering and design.

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: A radio frequency electronic filter includes an input, an output, and first and second resonators coupled to the input and the output, with the first resonator including a first voltage tunable dielectric varactor and the second resonator including a second voltage tunable dielectric varactor. The resonators can include a lumped element resonator, a ceramic resonator, or a microstrip resonator. Additional voltage tunable dielectric varactors can be connected between the input and the first resonator and between the second resonator and the output. Voltage tunable dielectric varactors can also be connected between the first and second resonators.

Abstract: A radio frequency electronic filter includes an input, an output, and first and second resonators coupled to the input and the output, with the first resonator including a first voltage tunable dielectric varactor and the second resonator including a second voltage tunable dielectric varactor. The resonators can include a lumped element resonator, a ceramic resonator, or a microstrip resonator. Additional voltage tunable dielectric varactors can be connected between the input and the first resonator and between the second resonator and the output. Voltage tunable dielectric varactors can also be connected between the first and second resonators.

Abstract: A beam steering, frequency agile antenna having low insertion loss, fast tuning speed, high power-handling capability, high IP3 and low cost in the microwave frequency range. The beam steering, frequency agile antenna comprising an array of antenna elements, said antenna array elements loaded with tunable dieletric capacitors in order to tune their frequency response; and an electronic phase shifter controlling said array of antenna elements in order to spatially scan the main radiation beam, said tunable dielectric capacitor comprising a substrate having a low dielectric constant with planar surfaces, a tunable dielectric film on said substrate of low loss tunable dielectric material, metallic electrodes with predetermined length, width, and gap distance; and low loss isolation material used to isolate an outer bias metallic contact and a metallic electrode on said tunable dielectric.

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.