A Ka-band MMIC phased array antenna

Author

Huang, J. ; Rascoe, D. ; Riley, A.L. ; Lubecke, V. ; Duffy, L.

Author_Institution

Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

fYear

1989

Firstpage

1212

Abstract

The NASA/CIT Jet Propulsion Laboratory deep-space network will utilize Ka-band communication systems (32-GHz downlink, 34-GHz uplink) for deep-space missions in the mid-1990s. For the spaceborne segment, a small Ka-band planar phased array with approximately 25 elements can be used to feed a 4-m dual-reflector system. The beam scanning capability of the phased-array allows the narrow beam ( approximately 0.2 degrees ) of the large reflector to perform fine beam pointing toward Earth. A 32-GHz transmitting phased array is currently under development utilizing MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) devices. As a first step, a linear array composed of six subarrays of microstrip radiators, six modules of power amplifiers, and phase shifters has been fabricated and tested. The results indicate that this MMIC phased array has adequate beam scanning capability.<>

Keywords

MMIC; antenna feeders; antenna phased arrays; microstrip antennas; microwave antenna arrays; phase shifters; power amplifiers; 32 GHz; 34 GHz; 4 m; EHF; Earth; Ka-band MMIC phased array antenna; NASA/CIT Jet Propulsion Laboratory; antenna feeder; beam scanning capability; deep-space network; dual-reflector system; fine beam pointing; linear array; microstrip radiators; monolithic microwave integrated circuit; phase shifters; power amplifiers; spaceborne segment; Downlink; Earth; Feeds; Laboratories; MMICs; Microwave antenna arrays; Microwave devices; NASA; Phased arrays; Propulsion;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium, 1989. AP-S. Digest

Conference_Location

San Jose, CA, USA

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/APS.1989.134927

Filename

134927