A compact, wide-band, variable phase shifter for reconfigurable satellite beam forming networks

A new design is introduced for planar variable power divider operating in Ku-band. The design employs standard branch line couplers and variables phase shifters. The latter are realized by means of 3-dB couplers and compact wide-band short-circuits with adjustable phases. These short circuits are made by folded stubs that, while sensibly reducing the overall dimensions of the components, leave the electrical characteristics unchanged. The synthesis of the whole structure is realized by means of an efficient mode-matching code. Measured results confirm the validity of the proposed design as well as the accuracy of the code used for the analysis.