A frequency-controlled beam-steering array with mixing frequency compensation for multichannel applications

A frequency-controlled beam-steering planar array with mixing frequency compensation is presented for cost-effective multichannel phased array applications. The new feed networks for frequency compensation not only operate in wide band but also ensure radio-frequency (RF) amplitude imbalance cancellation and progressive phase distribution. The parallel equal power dividers installed in both LO and intermediate-frequency (IF) feed networks provide uniform amplitude and phase distribution, while the fixed delay lines installed in the LO feed network exhibit precise phase progression, compared to a series feed structure. The LO power imbalance caused by the unequal delay line loss between elements is corrected by pumping each mixer into the LO saturation region, leading to linear IF-RF response. Thus, sidelobe degradation and pattern distortion caused by the RF amplitude imbalance, as well as the beam-steering error and beam squint caused by the phase errors of the delay lines, are removed. The proposed feed networks combined with quasi-Yagi antenna arrays and microwave monolithic integrated circuit mixers realize a broad bandwidth of more than 3 GHz in K band for multichannel wireless applications. The K band transmitter/receiver pair proposed in this paper successfully demonstrates two-channel simultaneous RF transmission and single channel 50-Mb/s data communication with 40° scanning. This simple, compact, yet cost-effective planar array ensures multichannel broadband wireless communications with beam-steering capability.