A new approach to design low cost, low complexity phased arrays

A new approach to design phased arrays with low cost and complexity is presented. In this approach, phase progression across the antenna elements is controlled by tuning a single phase shifter. As a result of reduction in the number of phase shifters, cost and complexity of phased arrays can be significantly reduced based on this approach. The presented phased array is a symmetrical structure consisting of directional couplers, phase shifters, amplifying stage and power combiners. The simple and compact phase shifters used in the design are composed of varactor diodes and inductors. As a proof-of-principle a 2 GHz phased arrays is fabricated and tested. The measurement results showing an approximate scan angle of 25 degrees are in a good agreement with the simulation.