Ku-band planar transmit-array module with transistor amplifiers

This paper presents the design, development and testing of a Ku-band planar transmit-array module of transistor amplifiers excited by either a pyramidal horn or a patch array. Investigations are performed into the power combining efficiency of these structures. After establishing optimal distances between the active transmit-array and the illuminating antenna, either the patch array or horn, the entire structure is tested in terms of gain, operational bandwidth and radiation pattern. The experimental results show that the use of a corporate-fed array as an illuminating device leads to a slightly higher gain and a significantly larger operational bandwidth