A digital current controlled latching ferrite phase shifter

This paper concerns the design and development of a new type of latching ferrite phase shifter for use in phased array antenna systems. The reported device differs from present multitoroid designs which require separate switching circuits for each toroidal element. In the new design, a single ferrite or garnet toroid is utilized to obtain differential phase shift in increments where is any positive integer. This is made possible by utilizing both major and minor hysteresis characteristics of the material. The described device is simpler in structure, more versatile, more compact, and exhibits less insertion loss than present designs. Specific designs, along with measured data, are given for two four-bit -Band (5.4 - 5.9 Gc) models. A measured insertion loss of less than 0.5 db is obtained for one 4.5 inch model. A suitable switching circuit is also proposed.