Patent ID: 8264300

Claim:
A tunable delay circuit assembly for controllably delaying signals that propagate along a transmission line, the circuit assembly comprising: an elongated conductor extending in a first direction, the elongated conductor configured to carry the signals; a first elongated ground plane conductor extending in the first direction; a second elongated ground plane conductor extending in the first direction; and a floating strip comprising: a first elongated conductive segment having a first centerline, wherein the first centerline is not parallel to the first direction; a second elongated conductive segment having a second centerline, wherein the second centerline is not parallel to the first direction; a third elongated conductive segment extending along a third centerline; a first switch coupled between the first segment and the second segment; and a second switch coupled between the first segment and the third segment; wherein the first switch, in a first position, is configured to connect the first segment to the second segment; wherein the first switch, in a second position, is configured to electrically isolate the first segment from the second segment; wherein the second switch, in a first position, is configured to connect the first segment to the third segment; wherein the second switch, in a second position, is configured to electrically isolate the first segment from the third segment; and wherein the floating strip is electrically isolated from other components of the circuit assembly.