An RF module including a signal generator for a flexible and accurate APAA

This paper presents an RF module including a signal generator for an APAA. By generating an RF signal independently in each module and sharing them among antenna arrays, the APAA realizes multi-frequency and multi-modulation beam forming simultaneously. The RF module measures the output RF signal of itself to compensate errors of output timing, amplitude and phase of the RF signals between multiple RF modules configuring the antenna array. These features realize a flexible and accurate APAA operation. The proposed RF module is fabricated with various functions and high performance ICs in SiGe technology. The proposed RF module is evaluated by measurements. The RF module generates various modulated waves with 1Gsps and operates C-Ku bands. It is achieved that the measurement accuracy of output timing error, amplitude error and phase error of RF signal are 56ps-rms, 0.6dB-rms and 0.6deg-rms respectively.