Ku-Band Radio Frequency Microelectromechanical System Enabled Electronically Scanned Antenna

Abstract

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has designed, fabricated, and measured an eight element Ku-band radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based electronically scanned antenna (ESA). This ESA is comprised of eight patch antennas with each patch individually fed by separate phase shifters. The reflection phase shifters use ARL's patent pending MEMS ohmic shunt switch. The ohmic shunt switch performance characteristics include insertion loss less than 0.3 decibel (dB) and isolation greater that 20 dB from direct current (DC) to 40 gigahertz (GHz). The 17 GHz phase shifters have an average insertion loss of 2.5 dB and a return loss greater than 20 dB. The effort resulted in successful beam steering using RF MEMS phase shifters. The work represents ARL's continuing effort in low-cost electronically scanned antennas in support of the Future Force.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA473896

Entities

People

  • Daniel Judy
  • Jeffrey S. Pulskamp
  • Ronald G. Polcawich
  • Steve Weiss

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antenna Arrays
  • Beam Steering
  • Control Panels
  • Detectors
  • Direct Current
  • Fabrication
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Bands
  • Horn Antennas
  • Insertion Loss
  • Ku Band
  • Losses
  • Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Military Research
  • Radio Frequency
  • Reflection
  • Transmission Lines

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems