System-Level Integrated Circuit (SLIC) Technology Development for Phased Array Antenna Applications

This report documents the efforts and progress in developing a 'system-level' integrated circuit, or SLIC, for application in advanced phased array antenna systems. The SLIC combines radio-frequency (RF) microelectronics, digital and analog support circuitry, and photonic interfaces into a single micro-hybrid assembly. Together, these technologies provide not only the amplitude and phase control necessary for electronic beam steering in the phased array, but also add thermally-compensated automatic gain control, health and status feedback, bias regulation, and reduced interconnect complexity. All circuitry is integrated into a compact, multilayer structure configured for use as a two-by-four element phased array module, operating at 20 Gigahertz, using a Microwave High-Density Interconnect (MHDI) process. The resultant hardware is constructed without conventional wirebonds, maintains tight inter-element spacing, and leads toward low-cost mass production. The measured performances and development issues associated with both the two-by-four element module and the constituent elements are presented. Additionally, a section of the report describes alternative architectures and applications supported by the SLIC electronics. Test results show excellent yield and performance of RF circuitry and full automatic gain control for multiple, independent channels. Digital control function, while suffering from lower manufacturing yield, also proved successful

Parasitic Layer-Based Reconfigurable Antenna and Array For Wireless Applications

Antenna is one of the most important components in wireless systems since signal transmission and reception are conducted through the antenna interface. Therefore, the signal quality is highly affected by the properties of the antenna. Traditional antennas integrated in devices such as laptops or cell phones have fixed radiation properties and can not be changed to adapt to different environments. Thus the performance of thefwhole system will be negatively affected since the antenna will not operate in the optimum status in different environments. To solve this problem, reconfigurable antenna, which can dynamically change its operation frequency, radiation pattern, and polarization, has gained a significant interest recently. Recongurable antennas are considered smart antennas, and can maximize the capacity of the wireless system. This dissertation focuses upon the theoretical analysis and design of smart antennas with recongurable radiation properties. The presented multi-functional reconfigurable antennas (MRAs) are aimed to applications in WLAN (wireless local area network) systems. The theoretical analysis of the MRA was rst investigated to validate the design concept, and then applied for practical applications. The multi-functional recongurable antenna array (MRAA), which is a new class of antenna array, is also created as a linear formation (4 1) of MRA, with theoretical analysis and design of the MRAA fully described. This work developed three MRA(A)s for practical implementation in WLAN systems. The rst design is the MRA operating in 802.11 b/g band (2.4-2.5 GHz), with nine beam steering directions in a parasitic layer-based MRA structure. The second is a MRA operating in 802.11ac band (5.17-5.83 GHz) with three beam steering directions in a simplied parasitic layer-based MRA structure. The third is a MRAA extension of the second design. The design process of these MRA(A)s is realized with the joint utilization of electromagnetic (EM) full-wave analysis and multi-objective genetic algorithm. All three MRA(A) designs have been fabricated and measured. The measured and simulated results agree well for both impedance and radiation characteristics. These prototypes can be directly employed in a WLAN system since practical limits have been taken into account with real switches and components implemented. Finally, this dissertation work concludes with plans for future work, which will focus on development of MRA(A)s with dual-frequency operation

A Framework for Computer Vision Assisted Beamforming in Aperiodic Phased Arrays

Mobile networks, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), and other dynamic wireless systems are prevalent in several widespread military and commercial applications due dynamic ability to adapt to an environment and commonly implemented autonomous control. Their mobility and dynamic reconfiguration create randomly dispersed networks that inherently give rise to significant electromagnetic challenges in collaborative applications such as beamforming. Conventional radio and communication systems overcome these challenges through designs that are highly structured with respect to frequency and are static in nature. Two inherent problems prevent collaborative electromagnetic capabilities in these disparate random geometrical systems: cognizance of node positioning and local synchronization of oscillators, phase, and information. This work proposes the combined use of image processing techniques and infrared depth-of-field sensing to detect and track node position in a phased array control framework for morphing clusters of randomly distributed antennas. This framework is presented and designed to uniquely identify array elements (or platforms) and track the motion-dynamic spatial distribution to provide feedback and control information for phase shifting and beamforming. A primary metric of this work is to examine the core performance of the phased array control system with respect to beamforming accuracy. This begins with the use of image recognition algorithms in a reconnaissance phase to establish element identities and determine their locations in the field of view. This process informs the depth-of-field sensor to prompt evaluation of the spatial distribution of elements and enable element location tracking through time. This information is communicated to a distributed array controller that identifies the characteristic function of the array (triangular, spheroidal, etc.), and calculates phases for the elements to achieve the desired beam steering operation. The framework also includes a mobile device (smartphone, tablet, etc.) as a user interface which can be used to control the phased array and link geolocation information for autonomous tracking modes. A framework operating at 2.48 GHz has been developed using low-cost off-the-shelf components, as well as custom-designed element platforms so the performance of the system can be observed experimentally. Results for element identification and spatial distribution are included to benchmark the accuracy of the aforementioned system. Next, a series of experiments demonstrates the operation of the proposed system through radiation patterns that incorporate beam steering and other complex control mechanisms. Analysis of the patterns shows from various geometrical topologies is presented to demonstrate the capability of the system to analyze morphing swarms and clusters. Finally, a conclusion presents findings from some noticeable differences in simulated and measured results

1-D broadside-radiating leaky-wave antenna based on a numerically synthesized impedance surface

A newly-developed deterministic numerical technique for the automated design of metasurface antennas is applied here for the first time to the design of a 1-D printed Leaky-Wave Antenna (LWA) for broadside radiation. The surface impedance synthesis process does not require any a priori knowledge on the impedance pattern, and starts from a mask constraint on the desired far-field and practical bounds on the unit cell impedance values. The designed reactance surface for broadside radiation exhibits a non conventional patterning; this highlights the merit of using an automated design process for a design well known to be challenging for analytical methods. The antenna is physically implemented with an array of metal strips with varying gap widths and simulation results show very good agreement with the predicted performance

Beam scanning by liquid-crystal biasing in a modified SIW structure

A fixed-frequency beam-scanning 1D antenna based on Liquid Crystals (LCs) is designed for application in 2D scanning with lateral alignment. The 2D array environment imposes full decoupling of adjacent 1D antennas, which often conflicts with the LC requirement of DC biasing: the proposed design accommodates both. The LC medium is placed inside a Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) modified to work as a Groove Gap Waveguide, with radiating slots etched on the upper broad wall, that radiates as a Leaky-Wave Antenna (LWA). This allows effective application of the DC bias voltage needed for tuning the LCs. At the same time, the RF field remains laterally confined, enabling the possibility to lay several antennas in parallel and achieve 2D beam scanning. The design is validated by simulation employing the actual properties of a commercial LC medium

Advanced deep space communication systems study Final report

Deep space communication system requirements for period 1970 to 198

Radar Technology

In this book “Radar Technology”, the chapters are divided into four main topic areas: Topic area 1: “Radar Systems” consists of chapters which treat whole radar systems, environment and target functional chain. Topic area 2: “Radar Applications” shows various applications of radar systems, including meteorological radars, ground penetrating radars and glaciology. Topic area 3: “Radar Functional Chain and Signal Processing” describes several aspects of the radar signal processing. From parameter extraction, target detection over tracking and classification technologies. Topic area 4: “Radar Subsystems and Components” consists of design technology of radar subsystem components like antenna design or waveform design

Analysis and design of new electronically reconfigurable periodic leaky-wave antennas

[SPA] El principal objetivo de la tesis es el estudio de nuevas tecnologías en el campo de las antenas reconfigurables. En particular, la tesis se centra en explorar y explotar el potencial que presentan un tipo de antenas denominadas como ¿Antenas basadas en Modos de Fuga¿ para controlar electrónicamente su diagrama de radiación. La tesis desarrolla el análisis, diseño y fabricación de tres novedosas antenas basadas en modos de fuga capaces de variar mediante unas pocas señales de control y de forma continua su ángulo de apuntamiento. El mecanismo de reconfiguración electrónica principalmente se basa en el control de la dispersión de los modos de fuga excitados en dichas estructuras, mediante un control electrónico introducido empleando estructuras periódicas resonantes combinadas con elementos activos tales como diodos varactores. La tesis demuestra claramente la utilidad de estas antenas en el campo de la reconfiguración electrónica, proponiendo estas nuevas estructuras como alternativas a otras soluciones más clásicas (como antenas en array de fase reconfigurables o reflectores parabólicos mecánicamente re-orientables mecánicamente) y otras de actualidad (como reflectarrays, transmitarrays, antenas metamateriales o antenas pixeladas), las cuales todas ellas presentan otros problemas en términos de coste, complejidad de diseño o limitaciones de escalabilidad en frecuencia, aportando así esta tesis novedosos conceptos de reconfiguración electrónica.[ENG] The thesis aims the design of novel reconfigurable antennas with electronic beam-scanning. In particular, the antennas analyzed are known as Fabry-Perot Antennas (FPA) and are currently of high interest in the scientific community because of their high-directivity, low-profile and structure simplicity, what allow them to be an interesting alternative to other technologies (e.g. parabolic reflectors, phased arrays, etc.) which require of complex power distribution networks, bulky external sources or costly techniques to achieve reconfigurable capabilities. In this thesis, the integration of active components, such as varactor diodes, with FPRA structures, is exploited to achieve electronic control of their aperture illumination, which in turn results in the electronic steering of the radiation-pattern main beam. A modal analysis based on the leaky-wave theory has allowed to understand and predict the behavior of these structures. An equivalent circuit model was developed to design and optimize the dimensions of theses complex structures, saving computational cost and time. The antennas are based on the control of the frequency dispersion response and the electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) properties of periodic structures, employing specially designed Frequency-Selective Surfaces (FSS) loaded with varactor diodes. Three novel antenna prototypes were manufactured to demonstrate electronic steering capability operating at 5.5GHz. Continuous scanning in elevation (1D scanning) and also in elevation and azimuth simultaneously (2D scanning) have been achieved employing just a few control signals (between 1 and 4 signals). The antenna structures have been implemented in a low-cost technology based on parallel plate waveguides and printed circuit boards which have allowed to design antennas with a reduced profile. Theoretical, simulated and experimental results are shown for each prototype to demonstrate the concepts. Also, some future lines related to novel planar reconfigurable antennas in development are also outlined. One of the main potential advantages of the reconfiguring principles presented for future applications is their frequency scalability. This would allow to apply these concepts to other technologies, such as MEMS or graphene, to build new reconfigurable antennas able to operate at higher frequency bands (e.g. mm-bands) for future applications.Universidad Politécnica de Cartagen