Development of different K-band MEMS phase shifter designs for satellite COTM terminals

This work presents the design, manufacturing, and testing of three 5-bit K-band Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) phase shifters based on similar architectures (combination of switched line and loaded line) but employing different MEMS switch typologies (cantilevers and air bridges) and RF junctions (SP2T and SP4T). All devices have been monolithically manufactured on 200 µm thick high resistivity silicon substrate (4″) by using the Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) RF MEMS process. The performance of the different devices has been compared in order to identify the best configuration to be implemented in electronically steerable phased array antennas for satellite COTM (communication on the move) terminals. Excellent performances were measured for the dielectric-free pad RF MEMS switches as well as the single bits constituting the phase shifter. The three 5-bit devices show return losses better than 15 dB for all states, with average insertion loss of 3.5 dB for the clamped–clamped, SP2T-based design, 2.2 dB for the cantilever, SP2T-based device and 2.1 dB for the cantilever, SP4 T-based design. A low-cost Surface Mountable Technology (SMT) one-level package has been developed as well to allow the phase shifter integration into phased array antennas by using automatic surface mounting techniques. The design and simulation of the SMT package are also presented together with its measured RF performance.

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Phased-array antennas using novel PSoC-controlled phase shifters for wireless applications

International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies ◽

10.1017/s1759078721001094 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Aparna B. Barbadekar ◽

Pradeep M. Patil

Keyword(s):

Insertion Loss ◽

Phase Shifter ◽

Phased Array ◽

Phase Shifters ◽

Control Circuit ◽

Power Divider ◽

Phased Array Antenna ◽

Phased Array Antennas ◽

Array Antennas ◽

Low Insertion Loss

Abstract The paper proposes a system consisting of novel programmable system on chip (PSoC)-controlled phase shifters which in turn guides the beam of an antenna array attached to it. Four antennae forming an array receive individual inputs from the programmable phase shifters (IC 2484). The input to the PSoC-based phase shifter is provided from an optimized 1:4 Wilkinson power divider. The antenna consists of an inverted L-shaped dipole on the front and two mirrored inverted L-shaped dipoles mounted on a rectangular conductive structure on the back which resonates in the ISM/Wi-Fi band (2.40–2.48 GHz). The power divider is designed to provide the feed to the phase shifter using a beamforming network while ensuring good isolation among the ports. The power divider has measured S11, S21, S31, S41, and S51 to be −14, −6.25, −6.31, −6.28, and −6.31 dB, respectively at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The ingenious controller is designed in-house using a PSoC microcontroller to regulate the control voltage of individual phase shifter IC and generate progressive phase shifts. To validate the calibration of the in-house designed control circuit, the phased array is simulated using $s_p^2$ touchstone file of IC 2484. This designed control circuit exhibits low insertion loss close to −8.5 dB, voltage standing wave ratio of 1.58:1, and reflection coefficient (S11) is −14.36 dB at 2.45 GHz. Low insertion loss variations confirm that the phased-array antenna gives equal amplitude and phase. The beamforming radiation patterns for different scan angles (30, 60, and 90°) for experimental and simulated phased-array antenna are matched accurately showing the accuracy of the control circuit designed. The average experimental and simulated gain is 13.03 and 13.48 dBi respectively. The in-house designed controller overcomes the primary limitations associated with the present electromechanical phased array such as cost weight, size, power consumption, and complexity in design which limits the use of a phased array to military applications only. The current study with novel design and enhanced performance makes the system worthy of the practical use of phased-array antennas for common society at large.

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Application of Ferroelectrics in Low-Cost Microwave Phased-Array Antennas

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-720-h5.2 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 720 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. B. L. Rao ◽

D. P. Patel ◽

P. K. Park ◽

T. K. Dougherty ◽

J. A. Zelik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase Shifter ◽

Phased Array ◽

Low Cost ◽

Bulk Phase ◽

Phase Shifting ◽

Phased Array Antenna ◽

Beam Scanning ◽

Phased Array Antennas ◽

Array Antennas ◽

Radiating Element

AbstractA novel, low-cost, phased-array antenna that uniquely incorporates bulk phase shifting using voltage-tunable dielectric (VTD) material is presented. The array does not contain an individual phase shifter at each radiating element. This paper presents the antenna concept and describes how it can be used as a low-cost phased array. The VTDs that are used in this antenna are described. The measured antenna patterns of a prototype phased array demonstrating electronic beam scanning at 10 GHz are also presented.

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