Non-dispersive microwave phase shifters

1. A non-dispersive phase shifter comprising:

a composite right- and left-handed (CRLH) circuit that comprises a CRLH unit cell that can be modeled as an inductor in series with a capacitor and a shunt element comprising an inductor and capacitor in parallel, the CRLH unit cell comprising two independent CRLH unit cell circuits that can be alternatively selected, one configured to enable the first state and the other configured to enable the second state, wherein the CRLH circuit can be toggled between a first phase delay state and a second phase delay state with a substantially constant phase shift over a range of frequencies.

2. The phase shifter of claim 1 , wherein the phase shift varies within a range of approximately 2 degrees and the range of frequencies is within the range of approximately 20 GHz to 30 GHz.

3. The phase shifter of claim 1 , wherein the phase shift varies within a range of approximately 2 degrees and the range of frequencies is approximately 20 GHz to 30 GHz.

4. The phase shifter of claim 1 , wherein the inductances and capacitances of the inductors modeled and capacitors each change when the circuit shifts from the first state to the second state and vice versa.

5. The phase shifter of claim 1 , wherein the CRLH unit cell comprises a series section and a shunt section.

6. The phase shifter of claim 5 , wherein the series section comprises first and second capacitors, an elongated trace, and first and second switches, wherein when the first switch is closed and the second switch is open an input signal travels through the first capacitor, through the first switch, and through the second capacitor, and wherein when the first switch is open and the second switch is closed the signal travels along the elongated trace, through the second switch, and through the second capacitor only.

7. The phase shifter of claim 6 , wherein the shunt section comprises a spiral trace and a switch, the spiral trace having an outer loop and an inner loop, wherein when the switch is open, a relatively long path extends between an input of the trace and ground, and wherein when the switch is open, a relatively short path extends between the input and ground.

8. The phase shifter of claim 5 , wherein the series section comprises a trace and a capacitor and the shunt section comprises spiral trace.

9. The phase shifter of claim 1 , wherein the phase shifter is a multi-bit phase shifter that is configured to shift phase at multiple angles.

10. The phase shifter of claim 1 , wherein the phase shifter is a four-bit phase shifter that is configured to shift phase at approximately 22.5 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 180 degrees.

11. The phase shifter of claim 10 , wherein the phase shifter comprises four bits, one for each angle.

12. The phase shifter of claim 11 , wherein each bit comprises a CRLH unit cell.

13. The phase shifter of claim 10 , wherein the phase shifter occupies an area no greater than approximately 2.5×2.88 mm 2 .

14. A method for introducing variable phase delays to a radio frequency signal, the method comprising:

providing a composite right- and left-handed (CRLH) circuit that comprises a CRLH unit cell that can be modeled as an inductor in series with a capacitor and a shunt element comprising an inductor and capacitor in parallel, the CRLH unit cell including two independent CRLH unit cell circuits that can be alternatively selected, one configured to enable the first state and the other configured to enable the second state; and

changing the inductances and capacitances of the modeled inductors and capacitors to shift the circuit from a first phase delay state to a second phase delay state while maintaining a substantially constant phase shift over a range of frequencies.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the phase shift varies within a range of approximately 2 degrees and the range of frequencies is within the range of approximately 20 GHz to 30 GHz.