Title :
System aspects and transmission impairments of active phased arrays for satellite communications
Author :
Zaghloul, Amir I. ; Kilic, Ozlem ; Kohls, Eric C.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Virginia Polytech. Inst. & State Univ.
fDate :
1/1/2007 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The communications link and system aspects of active phased arrays that are used in multiple-beam satellite systems are assessed through measurements and analysis. Three link parameters are investigated and their effects on the overall carrier-to-interference ratio (CIR) are quantified. The first parameter is the intermodulation components that are generated at the nonlinear amplifier outputs and contribute to well-formed interference in the far-field radiation of the array. The second is the bit-error ratio (BER) degradation due to the multi-carrier operation of the active array. Measurement results are shown to demonstrate this effect. The third link parameter is the cochannel interference caused by frequency reuse in multiple-beam systems. The paper starts by reviewing early developments of phased arrays for multiple-beam satellite communications applications. A key component in these developments is the modular monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) beam-forming matrices that generate a number of simultaneous and independently digitally controlled beams
Keywords :
MMIC; cochannel interference; error statistics; phased array radar; satellite communication; telecommunication links; active phased arrays; beam-forming matrices; bit-error ratio degradation; cochannel interference; communications link; intermodulation components; monolithic microwave integrated circuit; multicarrier operation; multiple-beam satellite systems; satellite communications; system aspects; transmission impairments; Artificial satellites; Bit error rate; Degradation; Frequency; Integrated circuit measurements; Interchannel interference; MMICs; Phase measurement; Phased arrays; Satellite communication;
Journal_Title :
Aerospace and Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TAES.2007.357125