Electronically-Reconfigurable Lens Demonstrator for High-Average-Power Phased-Array Transmitters
Abstract
The primary objective of this project is to design, fabricate, and experimentally characterize an electronically-reconfigurable lens demonstrator for use in high-average-power phased-array antennas. The targeted performance metrics of this phased-array demonstrator include operating bandwidth of 6-12 GHz with instantaneous bandwidth greater than 500 MHz, aperture dimensions of 110 cm^2, continuous-wave (CW) power handling capability better than 22 W/cm^2, beam-scanning capability of +/- 45 degrees, 1-bit phase quantization, and total insertion loss lower than 1 dB. The secondary objective of the project is to study the use of this class of electronically-tunable lenses in passive or hybrid passive/active phased-array antenna architectures that offer enhanced sidelobe and null control and allow for forming multiple beams with different signal contents. To meet the primary objective, we plan on completing the design of the tunable lens prototype in the first 12 months by employing the unit cell of a high-power-capable, electronically-reconfigurable lens recently developed and experimentally demonstrated at the University of Wisconsin. During the first year of the project, we will focus on developing thermal management solutions, designing an RF shielded dc bias network, and reducing ohmic losses in the lens# aperture. In the following 18 months, we will fabricate the lens and the test setup needed for its high-power characterization, and perform high-power experiments. To meet the secondary objectives, we will investigate the beamforming and null steering capabilities of several passive or hybrid phased-array architectures that can take advantage of this tunable lens. We will do this using computer simulations and low-power experiments using a 900 cm^2 manually-reconfigurable version of the proposed lens.The ideas proposed in this project directly address future radar and electronic warfare (EW) needs of the Navy. In many EW and radar systems, phased-array antennas capable of radiating high-power levels are used to provide the capability to rapidly steer and shape the direction of the beam they radiate. However, typical active electronically-scanned arrays used in many military radar and EW systems are very costly. The proposed project presents a passive phased-array antenna technology that allows for electronic beam steering, beam shaping, null placement and steering, and radiation of very high average power levels over wide bandwidths. This technology provides many of the capabilities offered by active phased-array antennas at significantly reduced cost and complexity compared to state-of-the-art active phased-arrays. The proposed technologies are also expected to find applications in high-throughput microwave/mm-wave communication links, satellite communications, surveillance, missile defense systems, and long-range wireless power transfer. Reduced cost and complexity, extremely-high power handling capability, broadband operation, simplified thermal management, and high overall efficiency are the some of the key features of the proposed phased-array technology. The combination of these features is not currently available from any other existing phased-array technology. Approved for Public Release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142412173
Entities
People
- Nader Behdad
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Wisconsin System