Abstract: The invention relates to a voltage controlled analog phase shifter for operation at millimeter and microwave wavelengths using MMIC (Monolithic Microwave Integrated circuit) fabrication techniques. The phase shifter is formed of an artificial transmission line consisting of multiple unit elements in which each unit element contains a serial transmission line-inductance and a shunt diode capacitance which is variable as a function of an applied potential. In the design, the interconnecting transmission lines may be a small fraction of a wavelength, substantially less than one-quarter wavelength, and of high impedance relative to the characteristic impedance of the phase shifter. In consequence of the lumped design, each unit element, and a phase shifter using a plurality of such unit elements may be very small. The design also exhibits a low to negligible power consumption.

Abstract: An improved element for use in an electrically steered antenna array is disclosed comprising a dipole, an integral balun and a 180.degree. phase shift bit. The arrangement utilizes printed circuit techniques throughout using an unbalanced microstrip for connection to electrical circuitry, a balun for transitioning from unbalanced microstrip to a balanced dipole antenna and includes a low loss 180.degree. phase shift bit formed by the use of a branched feed network including two diodes whose conductive states determine the sense of antenna excitation, and produce the equivalent of a 180.degree. phase shift bit.