Patent ID: 7420445

Claim:
A circuit for guiding electromagnetic waves, comprising: a substrate for supporting components of the circuit for guiding electromagnetic waves; a co-planar waveguide; and at least one control device comprising: (a) at least one first conductive element on the substrate for connection to at least one first component of the circuit, (b) at least one second conductive element on the substrate for connection to at least one second component of the circuit, and (c) a control element made up of a variable impedance switching material on the substrate, and connecting the at least one first conductive element to the at least one second conductive element; wherein the switching material is comprised of compound which exhibits a bi-stable phase behavior, and having a variable impedance between a first impedance state value and a second impedance state value by application of energy thereto, thereby affecting at least one amplitude and phase delay of electromagnetic waves flowing through the circuit, as a result of change in the impedance value of the compound; and wherein the co-planar waveguide further comprising components that are arranged adjacent to each other.