Application of Coplanar Waveguide Microwave Integrated Circuits at C- and Ku-Band Frequencies

Several Coplanar Waveguide (CPW) Structures are investigated theoretically and realised on Alumina substrates using thinfilm technology. Shorted and open-ended stub elements, CPW-Microstrip and CPW-Slotline transitions, directional couplers and broadband attenuators are characterised and the measurements are presented. In particular, the application of these basic elements to bandstop- and bandpass-filters, frequency multipliers, low-noise and power amplifiers is discussed in detail. New realisations of PIN-diode switches and single balanced mixers for Ku-band frequencies using CPW-Slotline transitions are described. A novel selfbiasing mounting technique for Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) and the measurements are demonstrated. The units will be integrated to a Radar-Frontend operating at Ku-Band frequencies, including the transmit and receive chain, and the frequency control unit completely realised in CPW technique.