Wideband Solid-State Phased-Array Antenna Development at UHF.

摘要

Development of an experimental 16-element solid-state linear phased-array antenna that has an operating band from 0.6 to 0.95 GHz is described. Radiating elements in the antenna are novel strip radiators made using printed circuit techniques. The array aperture has been impedance matched to a VSWR<3.0:1 over the octave band from 0.5 to 1.0 GHz with beam scanning to plus or minus 60 degrees in the H plane. Element patterns measured on a 10- by 10-element array aperture indicate that the aperture is also matched with beam scanning to plus or minus 60 degrees in the E plane. Each of the radiators in the 16-element linear array was integrated with a microwave transistor amplifier with a nominal gain of 10 dB and efficiency of 50% at 3 watts output. Bandwidths of the amplifiers limit the 16-element solid-state array to an operating band from 0.6 to 0.95 GHz. Beam scanning in the H plane is accomplished by inserting lengths of coaxial delay lines between the integrated array and a 16:1 power divider network. Techniques and methods used in this development are applicable at higher radar frequencies.