A 3D Printed Compact RF Signal Processing True Time Delay Block

This paper presents a novel 3D printed RF signal processing true time delay block (TDB), which is composed of an RF Hilbert transformer and a tunable transmission line. Applying precision inkjet technology and the additive manufacturing method, a multilayer folded 3D TDB is designed and printed by simultaneously jetting both conductive and dielectric inks. To verify the design concept, a true time delay block (TDB) operating at WiFi frequencies is implemented and validated in experiment, and the results are align well with each other, where a tunable true time delay of approximately 82 ps is achieved with less than 1 dB insertion loss and a compact size of 14.1×23.2×2.4mm in 400MHz bandwidth.