We present a seven-bit multilayer true-time delay (TTD) circuit operating from 1 to 7GHz for wideband phased array antennas. By stacking advanced substrates with low dielectric loss, the TTD with PCB process is miniaturized and has low insertion loss. The signal vias with surrounding ground vias are designed to provide impedance matching throughout the band, allowing the overall group delay to be flat. The standard deviation of the TTD for all states is below 19ps, which is 1.87% of the maximum group delay. The maximum delay is 1016ps with resolution of 8ps. The implemented TTD is 36.6×19.4mm2 and consumes 0.65mW at 3.3V supply for all the delay states. The measured input/output return loss is better than 12.1dB for the band of 1-7GHz.

This paper presents a new decoupling circuit for suppressing radiated emissions due to power plane resonance in multilayer printed circuit boards (PCBs). This circuit is based on transmission line theory, and consists of two decoupling capacitors and one power trace. The two capacitors, one mounted on the power pin of an IC and the other mounted on the common power distribution bus in a board, are connected through the power trace. The characteristic impedance of the trace is much higher than the impedance of the capacitors. In addition, the length of the trace between the capacitors is less than 1/4 the effective wavelength for high frequency (e.g., 1 GHz). Tests we performed on simple PCBs confirm that our decoupling circuit suppresses radiated emissions due to power plane resonance.