Patent Description:
A phased array technology is a core technology of a fifth-generation (5th generation, <NUM>) communications system. A phase shifter (phase shifter, PS) is a key module in the phased array technology. A reflection-type phase shifter (reflection-type phase-shifter, RTPS) is favored by many research institutions and industries due to its advantages such as a bidirectional phase shift characteristic, a simple structure, and extremely low power consumption. The RTPS includes a hybrid quadrature coupler (hybrid quadrature coupler) and a variable reflective load, and phase shifting is implemented by changing an impedance of the variable reflective load. The impedance of the variable reflective load generally has three manners: series inductance and capacitance (LC), parallel LC, and π-type. Further, the impedance can be changed by changing a capacitance.

In the conventional technology, a variable reflective load may be implemented by a varactor (varactor). Because a capacitance value of the varactor is sensitive to changes in process, voltage, and temperature (process voltage and temperature, PVT), the phase shifting has a very poor PVT consistency, which severely deteriorates phase shifting accuracy and resolution of a phase shifter. <CIT> discloses high quality factor time delay filters using multi-layer fringe capacitors. <CIT> discloses a tunable filter to be mounted on a radio communication device or the like that can vary both the center frequency and the bandwidth. <CIT> discloses metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitors using vias within sets of interdigitated fingers. <CIT> discloses an interdigital capacitor with self-canceling inductance for integrated circuit (IC) applications.

Embodiments of this application provide a variable capacitor, a reflection-type phase shifter, and a semiconductor device, so as to resolve the problem that a capacitance value of a variable capacitor is sensitive to changes in PVT.

According to a first aspect, a variable capacitor is provided, including: a first comb structure and a first set of fingers, where the first comb structure includes a plurality of comb teeth, the first set of fingers includes at least one finger, the finger in the first set of fingers is disposed between at least two comb teeth of the first comb structure, and the finger in the first set of fingers has no electrical contact with the comb teeth of the first comb structure; a second comb structure and a second set of fingers, where the second comb structure includes a plurality of comb teeth, the second set of fingers includes at least one finger, the finger in the second set of fingers is disposed between at least two comb teeth of the second comb structure, and the finger in the second set of fingers has no electrical contact with the comb teeth of the second comb structure; and a switch configured to control whether there is electrical contact between the at least one finger in the first set of fingers and the at least one finger in the second set of fingers, where the first comb structure, the first set of fingers, the second comb structure, and the second set of fingers are all electrically conductive materials.

According to the variable capacitor and the reflection-type phase shifter provided in the embodiments of the application, a switch is used to control a quantity of capacitors in a capacitor array that are connected to the circuit, so as to control the capacitance value of the entire variable capacitor, which can achieve a very small capacitance step and a relatively large variable capacitance range. Moreover, because the foregoing variable capacitor uses an electrically conductive material (such as metal) in an array structure and the switch, the variable capacitor has relatively strong stability against changes in PVT, and helps, compared with a varactor, alleviate the problem that the capacitance value is sensitive to the changes in PVT.

In a possible implementation, the first comb structure and the second comb structure each include N + <NUM> comb teeth, and the first set of fingers and the second set of fingers each include N fingers, where an nth finger in the first set of fingers is located between an nth comb tooth and an (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth of the first comb structure, and an nth finger in the second set of fingers is located between an nth comb tooth and an (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth of the second comb structure, where n and N are both positive integers, and a value of n is less than or equal to a value of N.

In a possible implementation, N switches are connected between the first set of fingers and the second set of fingers, where a first terminal of an nth switch in the N switches is connected to the nth finger in the first set of fingers, and a second terminal of the nth switch in the N switches is connected to the nth finger in the second set of fingers.

In a possible implementation, a dielectric is sandwiched between the finger in the first set of fingers and the comb tooth of the first comb structure, and a dielectric is sandwiched between the finger in the second set of fingers and the comb tooth of the second comb structure. A dielectric being sandwiched between electrically conductive materials can increase a capacity of a capacitor.

In a possible implementation, the first set of fingers includes a plurality of sequentially arranged fingers, each of the first set of fingers having an equal length; and the second set of fingers includes a plurality of sequentially arranged fingers, each of the second set of fingers having an equal length.

In a possible implementation, the first set of fingers includes a plurality of sequentially arranged fingers, each of the first set of fingers having an increasing or decreasing length in the sequence of arrangement; and the second set of fingers includes a plurality of sequentially arranged fingers, each of the second set of fingers having an increasing or decreasing length in the sequence of arrangement.

In a possible implementation, a length ratio of adjacent fingers in the first set of fingers ranges from <NUM> times and <NUM> times, and a length ratio of adjacent fingers in the second set of fingers ranges from <NUM> times and <NUM> times. Although the capacitance value changes non-linearly, the phase shift curve of the reflection-type phase shifter is linear, and a relatively small phase shift step can be achieved regardless of the capacitance value.

In a possible implementation, the switch is a metal-oxide-semiconductor MOS switch. Alternatively, the switch may be a gallium nitride (GaN) switch.

In a possible implementation, the switch is controlled to be turned off or on by a set of digital switch codewords.

In a possible implementation, the first comb structure, the first set of fingers, the second comb structure, the second set of fingers, and the switch are located in a same metal layer. The process is simpler in this way than being located on different metal layers.

According to a second aspect, a reflection-type phase shifter is provided, including: a positive input port, a positive output port, a negative input port, a negative output port, a first hybrid quadrature coupler, a second hybrid quadrature coupler, a first inductor, a second inductor, a third inductor, a fourth inductor, a first variable capacitor, and a second variable capacitor, where the first variable capacitor and the second variable capacitor each are the variable capacitor described in any one of the first aspect and the implementations thereof. The positive input port is connected to an input port of the first hybrid quadrature coupler, the positive output port is connected to an isolated port of the first hybrid quadrature coupler, a coupled port of the first hybrid quadrature coupler is connected to a first connection terminal of the first variable capacitor via the first inductor, and a through port of the first hybrid quadrature coupler is connected to a first connection terminal of the second variable capacitor via the second inductor. The negative input port is connected to an input port of the second hybrid quadrature coupler, the negative output port is connected to an isolated port of the second hybrid quadrature coupler, a coupled port of the second hybrid quadrature coupler is connected to a second connection terminal of the first variable capacitor via the third inductor, and a through port of the second hybrid quadrature coupler is connected to a second connection terminal of the second variable capacitor via the fourth inductor.

In a possible implementation, the first hybrid quadrature coupler and the second hybrid quadrature coupler each are a parallel-coupled microstrip line directional coupler, the first inductor is arranged next to the third inductor, the second inductor is arranged next to the fourth inductor, and the first variable capacitor and the second variable capacitor are arranged between the first inductor and the second inductor and between the third inductor and the fourth inductor along routing directions of an input port and an output port of coupled lines of the first hybrid quadrature coupler and the second hybrid quadrature coupler.

According to a third aspect, a semiconductor device is provided, including the variable capacitor described in any one of the first aspect and the implementations thereof. For technical effects of the second aspect and the third aspect, refer to any one of the first aspect and the implementations thereof.

The following further describes technical solutions provided in this application with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that a system structure and a service scenario provided in the embodiments of this application are mainly intended to explain some possible implementations of the technical solutions in this application, and should not be construed as a unique limitation on the technical solutions in this application. A person of ordinary skill in the art may know that, as a system evolves and an updated service scenario emerges, the technical solutions provided in this application are still applicable to a same or similar technical problem.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a structure of a wireless communications system according to an embodiment of this application. <FIG> shows a wireless communications system <NUM> including a wireless network device <NUM> and a terminal <NUM>. It should be understood that although <FIG> only shows one wireless network device and one terminal, the wireless communications system may alternatively include another quantity of wireless network devices and terminals, and may further include other network devices.

As shown in <FIG>, a transmit beam set of a base station includes a transmit beam <NUM>, a transmit beam <NUM>, and a transmit beam <NUM>, and a receive beam set of a terminal includes a receive beam a, a receive beam b, and a receive beam c. The base station may sequentially transmit signals by using the transmit beam <NUM> to the transmit beam <NUM> within a specific time interval, to cover a terminal in a specific area. Correspondingly, the terminal may sequentially receive, by using the receive beam a to the receive beam c within a specific time interval, the transmitted signals carried by the different transmit beams.

The wireless communications system <NUM> may be used as an example of a mobile communications system according to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP) technical specifications, and may also cover wireless communications systems according to other wireless communications standards, for example, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE) <NUM> family, such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and other wireless communications standards.

The wireless network device is a computing device having a wireless communication function, which can generate beams with different directions through beamforming and other technologies to cover a cell <NUM>, and can communicate with terminals in different orientations within the cell <NUM>. It should be understood that the wireless network device may be a wireless access network device such as a base station. It should be understood that the base station may also sometimes be referred to as a wireless access point (access point, AP) or a transmission reception point (transmission reception point, TRP). The base station may be specifically a general NodeB (generation NodeB, gNB) in a <NUM> mobile communications system, an evolved NodeB (evolutional NodeB, eNB or eNodeB) in a <NUM> mobile communications system, and a base station in other possible wireless access technologies. There may also be a plurality of physical forms and transmit powers of the base station, for example, a macro base station (macro base station) or a micro base station (micro base station). The micro base station is also sometimes referred to as a small base station or a small cell (small cell).

The terminal may also be referred to as user equipment (user equipment, UE), a mobile station (mobile station, MS), or a subscriber unit (subscriber unit, SU). The terminal may be specifically, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet computer (tablet computer), a laptop computer (laptop computer), a wearable device (a smartwatch, a smart band, a smart helmet, smart glasses, or the like), and other communications devices having a wireless access capability, such as various Internet of things devices, including various smart home devices (such as smart meters and smart home appliances), smart city devices (such as security or surveillance devices, smart road traffic facilities), and the like.

It can be understood that the wireless communications system structure in <FIG> is merely an example of an implementation in the embodiments of this application, and the communications system structure in the embodiments of this application includes but is not limited to the foregoing communications system structure.

It should be understood that these transmit beams and receive beams in <FIG> can be generated by a phased array of the base station and the terminal. A phased array is a phase-controlled electronically scanned array, and is formed by arranging a large quantity of antenna units into an array. Each antenna unit may be controlled by an independent switch, and a radiation direction of an electromagnetic wave is modulated by controlling an amplitude and a phase of the antenna unit in the array, to synthesize a directional scanning-focused beam.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a phased array according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, the phased array includes an antenna array composed of a plurality of antennas. These antenna arrays can provide a plurality of transceiver channels for wireless communication, and a quantity of transceiver channels may be denoted as N. These transceiver channels may use a combiner to aggregate received signals, or may use a splitter to split a to-be-sent signal. To control phases of the antenna units in the antenna array, the phased array naturally needs to include phase shifters for adjusting phase changes, and the phase shifters are denoted as PSs in <FIG>. In addition to the PSs, <FIG> further shows some amplifiers for amplifying signals, and the amplifiers include: a variable gain amplifier (variable gain amplifier, VGA), a power amplifier (power amplifier, PA), and a low noise amplifier (low noise amplifier, LNA). It should be understood that <FIG> is merely for illustration, and the phased array in this embodiment of this application may further include other components.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a structure of a reflection-type phase shifter according to an embodiment of this application. The reflection-type phase shifter can be applied to the foregoing wireless communications system and phased array. As shown in <FIG>, the reflection-type phase shifter may include: a positive input port IN_P, a positive output port OUT_P, a negative input port IN_N, a negative output port OUT_N, a first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM>, a second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM>, a first inductor L1, a second inductor L2, a third inductor L3, a fourth inductor L4, a first variable capacitor C1, and a second variable capacitor C2.

The positive input port IN_P is connected to an input port a1 of the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM>, the positive output port OUT_P is connected to an isolated port b1 of the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM>, a coupled port c1 of the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a first connection terminal of the first variable capacitor C1 via the first inductor L1, and a through port d1 of the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a first connection terminal of the second variable capacitor C2 via the second inductor L2.

The negative input port IN_N is connected to an input port a2 of the second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM>, the negative output port OUT_N is connected to an isolated port b2 of the second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM>, a coupled port c2 of the second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a second connection terminal of the first variable capacitor C1 via the third inductor L3, and a through port d2 of the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a second connection terminal of the second variable capacitor C2 via the fourth inductor L4.

The first variable capacitor C1 and the second variable capacitor C2 in the foregoing description each may be the following variable capacitor.

As shown in <FIG>, the variable capacitor includes: a first comb structure <NUM>, a second comb structure <NUM>, a first set of fingers <NUM>, a second set of fingers <NUM>, and at least one switch K. Optionally, the variable capacitor further includes a first connection terminal <NUM> and a second connection terminal <NUM>. The first connection terminal <NUM> is connected to the first comb structure <NUM>, and the second connection terminal <NUM> is connected to the second comb structure <NUM>.

The first comb structure <NUM> includes a plurality of comb teeth, and the first set of fingers <NUM> includes at least one finger, where the finger in the first set of fingers <NUM> is disposed between at least two comb teeth of the first comb structure <NUM>, and the finger in the first set of fingers <NUM> has no electrical contact with the comb teeth of the first comb structure <NUM>. Further, the finger in the first set of fingers <NUM> is disposed between at least two adjacent comb teeth of the first comb structure <NUM>.

The second comb structure <NUM> includes a plurality of comb teeth, and the second set of fingers <NUM> includes at least one finger, where the finger in the second set of fingers <NUM> is disposed between at least two comb teeth of the second comb structure <NUM>, and the finger in the second set of fingers <NUM> has no electrical contact with the comb teeth of the second comb structure <NUM>. Further, the finger in the second set of fingers <NUM> is disposed between at least two adjacent comb teeth of the second comb structure <NUM>.

The at least one switch K is configured to control whether there is electrical contact between the at least one finger in the first set of fingers <NUM> and the at least one finger in the second set of fingers <NUM>. When the at least one switch K is turned on, there is electrical contact between the at least one finger in the first set of fingers <NUM> and at least one finger in the second set of fingers <NUM>; and when the at least one switch K is turned off, there is no electrical contact between the corresponding finger in the first set of fingers <NUM> and the corresponding finger in the second set of fingers <NUM>. It should be noted that the at least one finger in the first set of fingers <NUM> and the at least one finger in the second set of fingers <NUM> may be in direct electrical contact, that is, whether the corresponding two fingers are connected is not controlled by using the switch.

The first comb structure <NUM>, the first set of fingers <NUM>, the second comb structure <NUM>, and the second set of fingers <NUM> are all electrically conductive materials. Further, the first comb structure <NUM>, the second comb structure <NUM>, the first set of fingers <NUM>, and the second set of fingers <NUM> are metal. For example, the metal may be copper, aluminum, gold, or the like.

The at least one switch K may be a metal-oxide-semiconductor (metal oxide semiconductor, MOS) transistor switch or a gallium nitride (GaN) switch or the like, which is not limited in this application. It should be noted that the electrical contact in this application may be understood as a state in which electrically conductive materials are in contact with each other to allow a current to pass. The comb structure in this application may be understood as an E-shaped electrically conductive material with one end connected together and the other end unconnected. The finger in the embodiments of this application may be understood as an electrically conductive material between two comb teeth of the comb structure. It should be understood that although the finger shown in <FIG> is strip-shaped, the finger in the embodiments of this application may not be limited to the strip shape shown in <FIG> as long as the finger and the two comb teeth of the comb structure constitute a capacitor required by the embodiments of this application.

In this embodiment of this application, a quantity of comb teeth included in the first comb structure <NUM> is greater than a quantity of fingers included in the first set of fingers <NUM>. A quantity of comb teeth included in the second comb structure <NUM> is greater than a quantity of fingers included in the second set of fingers <NUM>. The quantity of fingers included in the first set of fingers <NUM> or the quantity of fingers included in the second set of fingers <NUM> is greater than or equal to a quantity of switches in the at least one switch K. In other words, there may be no fingers between some adjacent comb teeth, and there may be no switches between some opposing fingers in the first set of fingers <NUM> and the second set of fingers <NUM>. For example, the first comb structure <NUM> and the second comb structure <NUM> each include <NUM> comb teeth, the first set of fingers <NUM> and the second set of fingers <NUM> each include six fingers, and the at least one switch K includes four switches.

In a possible implementation, as shown in <FIG>, the first comb structure <NUM> and the second comb structure <NUM> each include N + <NUM> comb teeth, and the first set of fingers <NUM> and the second set of fingers <NUM> each include N fingers. The at least one switch K includes N switches K<NUM> to KN, and the N switches K<NUM> to KN are connected between the first set of fingers <NUM> and the second set of fingers <NUM>.

An nth finger an in the first set of fingers <NUM> is located between an nth comb tooth Sn and an (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth Sn+<NUM> of the first comb structure <NUM>, and the nth finger an in the first set of fingers <NUM> has no electrical contact with the nth comb tooth Sn and an (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth Sn+<NUM> of the first comb structure <NUM>.

An nth finger bn in the second set of fingers <NUM> is located between an nth comb tooth Tn and an (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth Tn+<NUM> of the second comb structure <NUM>, and the nth finger bn in the second set of fingers <NUM> has no electrical contact with the nth comb tooth Tn and an (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth Tn+<NUM> of the second comb structure <NUM>.

A dielectric is sandwiched between the finger in the first set of fingers <NUM> and the comb tooth of the first comb structure <NUM>, and a dielectric is sandwiched between the finger in the second set of fingers <NUM> and the comb tooth of the second comb structure <NUM>. Specifically, a dielectric is sandwiched between the nth finger an in the first set of fingers <NUM> and each of the nth comb tooth Sn and the (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth Sn+<NUM> of the first comb structure <NUM>, and a dielectric is sandwiched between the nth finger bn in the second set of fingers <NUM> and each of the nth comb tooth Tn and the (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth Tn+<NUM> of the second comb structure <NUM>.

A first terminal of an nth switch Kn in the N switches is connected to one end of the nth finger an in the first set of fingers <NUM>, and a second terminal of the nth switch Kn is connected to one end of the nth finger bn in the second set of fingers <NUM>.

n and N are both positive integers, and a value of n is less than or equal to a value of N.

<FIG> shows an equivalent circuit of the foregoing variable capacitor. The nth finger an in the first set of fingers <NUM> and the nth comb tooth Sn and the (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth Sn+<NUM> of the first comb structure <NUM> form a capacitor C<NUM>n, and the nth finger bn in the second set of fingers <NUM> and the nth comb tooth Tn and the (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth Tn+<NUM> of the second comb structure <NUM> form a capacitor C<NUM>n.

When the nth switch Kn is turned on, the capacitor C<NUM>n and the capacitor C<NUM>n are connected in series, and a capacitance value of a capacitor Cn corresponding to the turned-on switch Kn is (C<NUM>n* C<NUM>n)/(C<NUM>n+C<NUM>n). In particular, when the capacitor C<NUM>n is equal to the capacitor C<NUM>n, a capacitance value of the capacitor Cn corresponding to the switch Kn is C<NUM>n/<NUM> or C<NUM>n/<NUM>. Therefore, the introduction of the switch Kn in the capacitor structure can cause the smallest change value of the capacitor to be (C<NUM>n*C<NUM>n)/ (C<NUM>n+C<NUM>n), which is less than the capacitance C<NUM>n or the capacitance C<NUM>n, so that capacitance adjustment precision of the variable capacitor can be reduced.

When more than one switch is turned on, capacitors corresponding to the turned-on switches are connected in parallel, and a capacitance of the entire variable capacitor is a sum of the capacitors connected in parallel. Turning on a different quantity of switches can change the capacitance value of the variable capacitor. For example, a capacitor corresponding to a switch K<NUM> is C<NUM>, and a capacitor corresponding to a switch Kn is Cn. If the switches K<NUM> and Kn are turned on, the capacitance value of the entire variable capacitor is C<NUM>+Cn.

According to the variable capacitor and the reflection-type phase shifter provided in the embodiments of the application, a switch is used to control a quantity of capacitors in a capacitor array that are connected to the circuit, so as to control the capacitance value of the entire variable capacitor, which can achieve a very small capacitance step and a relatively large variable capacitance range. The capacitance step thereof can be <NUM> fF to <NUM> fF, and a variable capacitance ratio can reach <NUM>. Moreover, because the foregoing variable capacitor uses an electrically conductive material (such as metal) in an array structure, the variable capacitor has relatively strong stability against changes in PVT, resolving the problem that the capacitance value is sensitive to the changes in PVT.

It should be noted that as shown in <FIG>, all the fingers in the first set of fingers <NUM> have an equal length, and all the fingers in the second set of fingers <NUM> have an equal length. To be specific, the first set of fingers <NUM> includes a plurality of sequentially arranged fingers, each of the first set of fingers <NUM> having an equal length; and the second set of fingers <NUM> includes a plurality of sequentially arranged fingers, each of the second set of fingers <NUM> having an equal length. However, this application does not limit the lengths of the fingers in the first set of fingers <NUM> or the second set of fingers <NUM>. For example, the fingers in the first set of fingers <NUM> or the second set of fingers <NUM> may be of equal length or unequal length, or may be of alternately changing length, or may be of increasing or decreasing length as described below: The first set of fingers <NUM> includes a plurality of sequentially arranged fingers, each of the first set of fingers <NUM> having an increasing or decreasing length in the sequence of arrangement; and the second set of fingers <NUM> includes a plurality of sequentially arranged fingers, each of the second set of fingers <NUM> having an increasing or decreasing length in the sequence of arrangement.

The switch K is controlled to be turned off or on by a set of digital switch codewords. Accordingly, the capacitance value of the variable capacitor changes with the switch codeword of the switch K. <FIG> shows a curve of a capacitance value of a variable capacitor versus switch codewords of switches K<NUM> to KN. The switch codewords are corresponding binary representations of the switches K<NUM> to KN. For example, one bit corresponds to an on/off state of one switch. The bit being <NUM> indicates that the switch is turned off, and the bit being <NUM> indicates that the switch is turned on. When switches K<NUM> to KN are represented by bits in order from low to high, <NUM> may indicate that the switches K<NUM>, K<NUM>, and K<NUM> are turned off, and the switch K<NUM> is turned on.

It can be seen from the curve in <FIG> that the capacitance value of the variable capacitor changes linearly.

Phase shift characteristics of the reflection-type phase shifter are shown in Formula <NUM> as follows: <MAT> where Δφ is a phase shift amount, W is a frequency, L is an inductance value of an inductor connected in series with the variable capacitor, Z<NUM> is a characteristic impedance, and Cn is a capacitance value of the variable capacitor when the nth switch Kn is turned on. <MAT> in the above formula is an initial phase shift when all the switches of the variable capacitor are turned off, and is a constant. The phase shift Δφ of the reflection-type phase shifter is essentially an arctangent function of <NUM>/Cn. When the capacitance value of the variable capacitor changes linearly as shown in <FIG>, a corresponding phase shift curve of the reflection-type phase shifter is shown in <FIG>. It can be seen from the curve that the phase shift Δφ of the reflection-type phase shifter is non-linear, which means that a phase shift step is also non-linear. In addition, the phase shift step decreases with an increase of n, and the phase shift step is maximum when n is extremely small, which is very disadvantageous to the implementation of a high resolution (high resolution) reflection-type phase shifter.

To resolve this problem, the capacitance value Cn when the nth switch is turned on can be set properly, to fit Formula <NUM> into an approximate tangent function, so that a linear phase shift curve and a relatively small phase shift step can be obtained by properly controlling the capacitance step.

Optionally, when the nth switch Kn is turned on, a total capacitance value (that is, a sum of the capacitance formed by the nth finger an in the first set of fingers <NUM> and the nth comb tooth Sn and the (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth Sn+<NUM> of the first comb structure <NUM>, and the capacitance formed by the nth finger bn in the second set of fingers <NUM> and the nth comb tooth Tn and the (n + <NUM>)th comb tooth Tn+<NUM> of the second comb structure <NUM>) of the variable capacitor is the following value: <MAT> where Δφ is a phase shift amount, W is a frequency, L is an inductance value of an inductor connected in series with the variable capacitor, and Z<NUM> is a characteristic impedance.

According to the above formula, a length ratio of adjacent fingers (for example, the finger an+<NUM> and the finger an) in the first set of fingers <NUM> ranges from <NUM> times and <NUM> times, and a length ratio of adjacent fingers (for example, the finger bn+<NUM> and the finger bn) in the second set of fingers <NUM> ranges from <NUM> times and <NUM> times. A structure of an optimized variable capacitor is shown in <FIG>. A curve of a capacitance value of the optimized variable capacitor versus switch codewords of switches K<NUM> to KN is shown in <FIG>. A phase shift curve of a corresponding reflection-type phase shifter is shown in <FIG>.

It can be seen from the curves that although the capacitance value changes non-linearly, the phase shift curve of the reflection-type phase shifter is linear, and a relatively small phase shift step can be achieved regardless of the capacitance value.

A comb structure and a finger may be etched in a same metal layer, that is, the first comb structure <NUM>, the first set of fingers <NUM>, the second comb structure <NUM>, the second set of fingers <NUM>, and the switch K are located in the same metal layer. Alternatively, the first comb structure <NUM> and the first set of fingers <NUM> are located in a first metal layer, the second comb structure <NUM> and the second set of fingers <NUM> are located in a second metal layer, and the switch K may be located in the first metal layer or the second metal layer, where the switch K and the finger in the other metal layer may be in communication through a through hole.

For example, <FIG> shows a processing structure of a variable capacitor. A comb structure and a finger may be etched in a metal layer <NUM>. The figure shows only a first comb tooth S<NUM>, a second comb tooth S<NUM>, and a third comb tooth S<NUM> of the first comb structure <NUM>, and a finger a<NUM> and a finger a<NUM> in the first set of fingers <NUM>. Adjacent comb teeth and a finger from a capacitor. It should be noted that this application is not limited to only the use of the above processing structure.

As shown in <FIG>, when the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> and the second quadrature coupler <NUM> are centralized LC couplers:.

The first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> includes a capacitor Cc1, a capacitor Cc2, a capacitor Cg1, a capacitor Cg2, a capacitor Cg3, a capacitor Cg4, an inductor Lg1, and an inductor Lg2. An input port a1 of the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a first terminal of the capacitor Cc1, a first terminal of the capacitor Cg1, and a first terminal of the inductor Lg1. An input port c1 of the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a second terminal of the capacitor Cc1, a first terminal of the capacitor Cg3, and a first terminal of the inductor Lg2. A through port d1 of the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a first terminal of the capacitor Cc2, a first terminal of the capacitor Cg2, and a second terminal of the inductor Lg1. An output port b1 of the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a second terminal of the capacitor Cc2, a first terminal of the capacitor Cg4, and a second terminal of the inductor Lg2. A second terminal of the capacitor Cg1, a second terminal of the capacitor Cg2, a second terminal of the capacitor Cg3, and a second terminal of the capacitor Cg4 are grounded.

The second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> includes a capacitor Cc3, a capacitor Cc4, a capacitor Cg5, a capacitor Cg6, a capacitor Cg7, a capacitor Cg8, an inductor Lg3, and an inductor Lg4. An input port a2 of the second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a first terminal of the capacitor Cc3, a first terminal of the capacitor Cg5, and a first terminal of the inductor Lg3. An input port c2 of the second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a second terminal of the capacitor Cc3, a first terminal of the capacitor Cg7, and a first terminal of the inductor Lg4. A through port d2 of the second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a first terminal of the capacitor Cc4, a first terminal of the capacitor Cg6, and a second terminal of the inductor Lg3. An output port b2 of the second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> is connected to a second terminal of the capacitor Cc4, a first terminal of the capacitor Cg8, and a second terminal of the inductor Lg4. A second terminal of the capacitor Cg5, a second terminal of the capacitor Cg6, a second terminal of the capacitor Cg7, and a second terminal of the capacitor Cg8 are grounded.

As shown in <FIG>, when the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> and the second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> are parallel-coupled microstrip line directional couplers, the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> includes a first coupled microstrip line <NUM> and a second coupled microstrip line <NUM>; and the second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> includes a third coupled microstrip line <NUM> and a fourth coupled microstrip line <NUM>. A first end a1 of the first coupled microstrip line <NUM> is connected to the positive input port IN_P, and a second end d1 of the first coupled microstrip line <NUM> is connected to a first terminal of the second inductor L2. A first end c1 of the second coupled microstrip line <NUM> is connected to a first terminal of the first inductor L1, and a second end b1 of the second coupled microstrip line <NUM> is connected to the positive output port OUT_P. A first end a2 of the third coupled microstrip line <NUM> is connected to the negative input port IN_N, and a second end d2 of the third coupled microstrip line <NUM> is connected to a first terminal of the fourth inductor L4. A first terminal c2 of the fourth coupled microstrip line <NUM> is connected to a first terminal of the third inductor L3, and a second end b2 of the fourth coupled microstrip line <NUM> is connected to the negative output port OUT_N.

The first inductor L1 is arranged next to the third inductance L3, the second inductor L2 is arranged next to the fourth inductance L4, and the first variable capacitor C1 and the second variable capacitor C2 are arranged between the first inductor L1 and the second inductor L2 and between the third inductance L3 and the fourth inductance L4 along routing directions of an input port and an output port of coupled lines of the first hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM> and the second hybrid quadrature coupler <NUM>.

Compared with the layout of the reflection-type phase shifter shown in <FIG>, the layout of the reflection-type phase shifter shown in <FIG> uses the space between the two couplers to arrange the variable capacitors, which can effectively reduce an area of the overall layout of the reflection-type phase shifter.

An embodiment of this application further provides a semiconductor device, which may include the variable capacitor described above. For beneficial effects that can be achieved, refer to the beneficial effects in the embodiment provided above, and details are not described herein again. The semiconductor device may be a complete device such as a mobile phone or a base station, or may be an integrated circuit product in the complete device, such as a chip applied to radio frequency communication.

Claim 1:
A variable capacitor, comprising:
a first comb structure (<NUM>) and a first set of fingers (<NUM>), wherein the first comb structure (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of comb teeth, the first set of fingers (<NUM>) comprises at least one finger, the finger in the first set of fingers (<NUM>) is disposed between at least two comb teeth of the first comb structure (<NUM>), and the finger in the first set of fingers (<NUM>) has no electrical contact with the comb teeth of the first comb structure (<NUM>);
a second comb structure (<NUM>) and a second set of fingers (<NUM>), wherein the second comb structure (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of comb teeth, the second set of fingers (<NUM>) comprises at least one finger, the finger in the second set of fingers (<NUM>) is disposed between at least two comb teeth of the second comb structure (<NUM>), and the finger in the second set of fingers (<NUM>) has no electrical contact with the comb teeth of the second comb structure (<NUM>); and
characterized in:
a switch (K), configured to control whether there is electrical contact between the at least one finger in the first set of fingers (<NUM>) and the at least one finger in the second set of fingers (<NUM>), wherein
the first comb structure (<NUM>), the first set of fingers (<NUM>), the second comb structure (<NUM>), and the second set of fingers (<NUM>) are all electrically conductive materials.