32-Channel X-Band Digital Beamforming Plug-and-Play Receive Array

摘要

Phased array architectures have evolved to a point where digital beamforming (DBF) is rapidly becoming the preferred approach for many new advanced communication and radar phased arrays that will be in production by the end of this decade. DBF is often touted as the ultimate in phased array performance, yet one of its biggest potential long-term advantages may be lower cost. Traditionally, two of the biggest cost drivers in analog phased arrays have been non-recurring engineering costs attributed to non-scalable one-of-a-kind array designs and low-volume production of high performance RF components. Very few phased arrays share common components to any great degree and nearly all utilize uniquely designed RF manifolds. The advent of DBF will likely foster scalable modular phased array designs that reduce design costs and promote higher-volume production of key RF components. Below L-band, DBF receiver components are now small enough to integrate directly behind the array within the element unit cell. Above L-band, DBF architectures often use subarrays, or row/column implementations because the receiver hardware is still too large.