Novel phase shifter set to reduce signal loss in antennas

Researchers led by Dr Yi Wang from Birmingham’s School of Engineering created the new type of high-performance phase shifter using a liquid Gallium alloy, which is said to vary the phase angle of microwave and millimetre-wave radio signals.

The phase shifter is a key enabling technology for advanced phased array antennas (PAA) used in mobile base stations, satellites and radar systems. PAA systems use multiple phase shifters to provide the controlled phase increments that steer the radiation beam (see below).

However current phase shifters typically use semiconductors and suffer from high loss of signal (so-called insertion losses) and relatively poor power handling capability. 

In a statement, Dr Wang said: “An ideal phase shifter would provide a stable, and wide phase angle range with a minimal loss of signal over the operation bandwidth. However conventional phase shifters suffer from signal losses which increase as the phase angle increases, and the phase varies with frequency. Taken together, these issues can cause signal degradation and impair performance.