Electromechanical switching for circuits constructed with flexible materials

• Main Authors: Paschen, Dean A, Kelly, P. Keith, Payne, Dan A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.10.2003

The present invention relates to flexible and configurable circuits and to electromechanical switching for microwave circuits constructed from polymers. In particular, the present invention relates to the provision of multiple radio frequency phase shifters and attenuators having a low insertion loss for use in connection with an array of radiator elements. Method and apparatus for providing a configurable circuit are disclosed. In addition, method and apparatus for providing a phased array antenna having an integrated configurable circuit are provided. According to the present invention, at least a first component of a configurable circuit is formed on a first substrate. At least a second component of a configurable circuit is formed on at least a portion of a moveable cantilever formed from a second substrate. The first and second substrates are registered with one another to form a completed configurable circuit. According to the present invention, a configurable circuit may comprise a variable capacitor or a switch. In addition, a configurable circuit may be used in connection with phase shifting a radio frequency signal provided to an element of a phased array antenna. Antennas having integrated configurable circuits may be formed by registering and interconnecting a completed configurable circuit with a plurality of radiator elements, and with a feed network. The present invention also allows antennas with integrated configurable circuits having relatively large surface areas to be economically produced.