A mm-wave electrically controlled dielectric waveguide phase shifter

A new concept of electrically controlled phase shifter has been designed, realized and tested at laboratory level. This device makes use of an insulated dielectric waveguide whose conductor plate is a metallized piezoelectric actuator. Through appropriate biasing of this actuator, the mean distance between the dielectric rod and the conductor plate is changed, thus modifying the guided wavelength. Both efficiency and figure of merit of such device make it attractive in the mm-wave band; design criteria are presented, and prototype testing is compared with theoretical results.