Patent ID: 7173503

Claim:
A phase shifter, comprising: a solid-state device including a path for the flow of electrical current between first and second electrodes and a control electrode for controlling the flow of current through said path; a source of signal to be phase shifted, said source of signal being coupled to said control electrode of said device, for controlling the flow of current through said path in response to said signal in such a manner that first electrode signal appearing at said first electrode in response to said signal coupled to said control electrode is in a first phase state relative thereto, and in such a manner that second electrode signal appearing at said second electrode in response to said signal coupled to said control electrode is in a second phase state, different from said first phase state; a first switch including a common terminal coupled to said first electrode of said device and a first independent terminal coupled to reference potential, and also including a second independent terminal, for, in a first state of said first switch, coupling said first electrode of said device to said second independent terminal of said first switch, and for, in a second state, coupling said first electrode of said device to said reference potential; a second switch including a common terminal coupled to said second electrode of said device and a first independent terminal, and also including a second independent terminal coupled to reference potential, for, in a first state of said second switch, coupling said second electrode of said device to said second independent terminal of said second switch, and for, in a second state of said second switch, coupling said second electrode of said device to said first independent terminal of said second switch; a third switch including a common terminal, and first and second independent terminals, said first independent terminal of said third switch being coupled to said first independent terminal of said second switch and said second independent terminal of said third switch being coupled said second independent terminal of said first switch, said third switch connecting said common terminal of said third switch to said second independent terminal of said third switch in a first state of said third switch, and connecting said common terminal of said third switch to said first independent terminal of said third switch in said second state of said third switch; and control means coupled to said first, second, and third switches, for, in a first nominal phase condition, simultaneously controlling said first, second, and third switches to said first states of said first, second, and third switches, and for, in a second nominal phase condition, simultaneously controlling said first, second, and third switches to said second states of said first, second, and third switches.