Title :
Ka-band MEMS TTD passive electronically scanned array (ESA)
Author :
Van Caekenberghe, Koen ; Vähä-Heikkilä, Tauno ; Rebeiz, Gabriel ; Sarabandi, Kamal
Author_Institution :
Radiat. Lab., Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI
Abstract :
In this paper, design, fabrication and measurement results of the first MEMS based, passive subarray is discussed. The system is based on distributed MEMS transmission lines (DMTL) by Barker and Rebeiz, (2003), which are the lowest loss analog time delay units (TDUs) currently available, outperforming contemporary MMIC, ferroelectric and photonic true time delay (TTD) units in terms of loss and outperforming digital beamforming (DBF) technology in terms of cost and feasibility. Also, in contrast to switched beamforming networks (BFN) based on SPNT switches and constrained lenses, such as the bootlace, Rotman and Archer lens, the noise figure of the passive line array scales readily with the amount of antenna elements and the transmit power is distributed and not limited by the SPNT, making it the subarray of choice for future integration in a hybrid ESA
Keywords :
lens antennas; linear antenna arrays; micromechanical devices; microwave antenna arrays; millimetre wave antenna arrays; switched networks; transmission lines; ESA; Ka-band MEMS TTD passive electronically scanned array; MMIC; Rotman-Archer lens; SPNT switches; antenna elements; bootlace lens; constrained lenses; digital beamforming technology; distributed MEMS transmission lines; ferroelectric time delay unit; lowest loss analog time delay units; noise figure; passive line array; photonic true time delay unit; switched beamforming networks; transmit power; Array signal processing; Delay effects; Fabrication; Lenses; MMICs; Micromechanical devices; Optical losses; Power transmission lines; Propagation losses; Transmission line measurements;
Conference_Titel :
Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium 2006, IEEE
Conference_Location :
Albuquerque, NM
Print_ISBN :
1-4244-0123-2
DOI :
10.1109/APS.2006.1710572
