US 11,876,275 B2
Liquid crystal phase shifter, method for operating the same, liquid crystal antenna, and communication apparatus
Ying Wang, Beijing (CN); Tienlun Ting, Beijing (CN); Jie Wu, Beijing (CN); Xue Cao, Beijing (CN); Liang Li, Beijing (CN); Haocheng Jia, Beijing (CN); Peizhi Cai, Beijing (CN); and Chuncheng Che, Beijing (CN)
Assigned to BEIJING BOE SENSOR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., Beijing (CN); and BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., Beijing (CN)
Filed by BEIJING BOE SENSOR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., Beijing (CN); and BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., Beijing (CN)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/990,001.
Application 17/990,001 is a continuation of application No. 16/641,444, granted, now 11,563,260, previously published as PCT/CN2019/099798, filed on Aug. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 201810910040.8 (CN), filed on Aug. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0079873 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. H01P 1/18 (2006.01); H01Q 3/38 (2006.01)
CPC H01P 1/181 (2013.01) [H01Q 3/38 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid crystal phase shifter, comprising:
a microwave transmission structure and a phase adjustment structure opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal layer between the microwave transmission structure and the phase adjustment structure; wherein
the phase adjustment structure comprises a plurality of phase adjustment units;
the plurality of phase adjustment units are configured to change a dielectric constant of the liquid crystal layer according to a voltage applied to the phase adjustment units and a voltage applied to the microwave transmission structure, so as to adjust a phase of a microwave signal; and
phase shift amounts adjusted by at least two of the plurality of phase adjustment units are different from each other, wherein
the microwave transmission structure comprises: a first substrate; a microstrip at a side of the first substrate proximal to the liquid crystal layer; and a ground electrode at a side of the first substrate distal to the liquid crystal layer;
the plurality of phase adjustment units are connected to each other in series; and
the microstrip has a straight-line shape that extends in a direction in which the plurality of phase adjustment units are connected to each other in series, and has a one-piece structure in the direction.