A novel bi-directional amplifier with applications in active Van Atta retrodirective arrays

A novel two-port bi-directional amplifier, which may simultaneously amplify the waves coming from both ports, is proposed and demonstrated in this paper. Using this amplifier, a two-element active Van Atta retrodirective array is implemented and compared to a four-element passive array. The bi-directional amplifier is constructed by two identical one-port reflection-type amplifiers and a 3-dB 90° hybrid. The reflection-type amplifier is designed using an FET with a single-power-supply configuration. A quarter-wavelength microstrip radial stub is connected to the device´s source terminal to narrow down the negative-resistance frequency range so as to avoid oscillation at undesired frequencies. The fabricated bi-directional amplifier provides the transmission gain over the frequency band from 5.76 to 6.88 GHz, with a peak value of 9.1 dB at 6.04 GHz. Printed Yagi antennas with four directors are adopted to build both the active and passive Van Atta arrays. The 3-dB back-scattering beamwidth of the active array is measured as wide as 74°. Finally, it is observed from the measurements that, although only half of the antenna elements are used, the active Van Atta array produces a back-scattering field level 4.5 dB, on average, higher than the passive one does. This verifies the performance of the bi-directional amplifier.