Search

A waveguide short-slot two-plane coupler is proposed as a component of 2-D beam-switching Butler matrix. The hybrid and cross coupler operations are designed by including the 2-D polarity symmetry, the propagation constant, and the coupling with the ports of the modes in the coupled region. Their designs are confirmed by experiments. The achieved bandwidth is approximately 2%, restricted by the frequency characteristic of the modes in the coupled region. Since the short-slot two-plane hybrid coupler itself acts as the 2\times2-way 2-D beam-switching Butler matrix, the beam switching is also verified by measurements. The general configuration of the 2-D beam-switching Butler matrix is also proposed by using the short-slot two-plane couplers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With the aid of tri-operational mode synthesized transmission lines, an innovative heterogeneous integrated phased array having the functions of beam-switching and retrodirection in three individual bands is proposed and demonstrated. The key innovation is the array feeding network, capable of automatically reconfiguring its topology into three states without applying any active switch. In the low band, the feeding circuit, and hence, the entire system function as a beam-switching array using the Butler matrix for communication and positioning. In the mid and high bands, the integrated array rearranges its feeding network into pairs of isolated delay lines and becomes a Van Atta array and a phase-conjugating array, respectively, to re-radiate the signals to the direction of arrival. The core building blocks are the three-channel selector, tri-mode coupler, and diplexer, all realized by synthesized transmission lines with rigorous design formulae. The operational principle is first introduced, followed by the design and implementation of the key components. A phase compensation scheme is discussed to complete the tri-mode array design. This unique concept is experimentally verified using the radiation characteristics of the integrated array at the end of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By utilizing synthesized transmission lines, in this paper a four-element heterogeneous integrated beam-switching/ retrodirective phased array is proposed and demonstrated. Without using active devices, the innovative array can switch its feeding network in two operational modes, making it identical to a beam-switching Butler matrix array in one frequency band, but become a reflection-type retrodirective array in the other band. The key building blocks of the unique feeding network are the dual-mode crossover and dual-mode delay lines, realized by synthesized transmission lines consisting of quasi-lumped meander-line inductors and series LC tanks in microstrip form. The operational principles, including the architecture and phase compensation scheme, are first discussed, followed by the design considerations and experimental results of the core components. The circuit responses of the feeding network and the radiation characteristics of the heterogeneous integrated array are validated through experiments. Discussion is given at the end of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]