Transmit/receiver module for active phased array antenna

• US 20030156060A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chief Controller Research and Development Defence Research and Development Organisation Ministry of Defence GOVT of India
• Original Assignee: Chief Controller Research and Development Defence Research and Development Organisation Ministry of Defence GOVT of India
• Inventors: Sophy, Kalappurakkal Thomas, Sreenivasulu, Kilari, Veerabhadra, Kori Malleshappa, Revankar, Udayshankar Kashinathrao
• Granted Patent: US 6,784,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/372
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/032 Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0025 Modular arrays

Abstract

This invention relates to a transmit and receive module for active phased array antenna system based upon a combination of hybrid microwave integrated circuit (MIC) as well as monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology. The module comprises a signal transmit chain having switching means (03) for switching the module to transmittance mode. Means are provided for applying pulsed RF signal to the said module from array manifold. A phase shifter (01) is connected to a digital attenuator (02) and the output of the attenuator (02) is connected to a power amplifier (04). The amplified signals from amplifier (04) are conveyed to a duplexer means (05) connected to said power amplifier (04) and for routing back the received signal through a receiver protector (06) and low noise amplifier means (07). Electronic means are connected to a power conditioner for controlling the operation of the device.

Claims

1. A transmit/receive module for active phased array antenna system based upon a combination of hybrid microwave integrated circuit (MIC) and monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology and comprising of signal transmit chain (10) incorporating power conditioner (38) and signal receive chain (11) incorporating control electronics (37) and bias sequencer modulator (39);

wherein, the said signal transmit chain (10) comprises of;

T/R switching means (35), for switching the module to the transmit mode, connected to the transmit amplifier chain (12-20) through shared 6-bit digital phase shifter (36);

duplexer means (21) receiving the amplified signal from the transmit amplifier chain (12-20);

a drop-in circulator (27) anti high power switch (28) as a part of receiver protector (27-29) connected to high power limiter (29) of the said receive chain (11);

on-line power monitoring means (22-25);

A Single Pole Single Throw (SPST) switch (26) for on line sampling of transmit power;

Tx/Rx interface PCBs (40,41) for interconnections between the said transmit chain (10) and the said receive chain (11);

wherein, the said receive chain (11) receives signal from drop-in circulator (27) and high power switch (28) in receive mode and comprises of;

high power limiter (29);

RF pre-selection filter (30) connected to the said high power limiter (29)

low noise amplifier means (31-33);

6-bit digital attenuator means (34) connected to shared digital phase shifter (36) through T/R switching means (35);

all connected through control electronics (37), bias sequencer-modulator (39) and power conditioner means (38);

2. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim (1) wherein, the said transmit chain power amplifier (12-20) comprises four stage class-C amplifiers (13-20), a GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) medium power amplifier driver (12) and a final power amplifier chain (17-20) which includes balanced stage amplifiers (17-18) with wire-line hybrid divider (19)/combiner (20).

3. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim (1) wherein, the said power monitor means (22-25) comprises a microstrip coupler (22) and a detector (24) connected together for forward power monitoring, and an asymmetric (microstrip coupler (23) and a detector (25) connected together for reverse power monitoring.

4. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim (1) wherein, the said receiver protector (27-30) comprises a drop-in circulator (27), high power switch (28), and a limiter (29).

5. A transmit/receive nodule as claimed in claim (1) wherein, the said transmit chain (10) is based upon hybrid microwave integrated circuit (MIC) approach.

6. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim (1) wherein, the said transmit chain (10) is configured using microstrip circuitry on thin soft ceramic microwave laminate with aluminium back-up.

7. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said receive chain (11) is based on hybrid GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMICs).

8. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim (1) wherein, the said receive chain (11) is configured using microstrip circuitry on thin soft ceramic microwave laminate with aluminium back-up.

9. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim (1) wherein, the said transmit chain (10) and the said receive chain (11) are housed in the stacked two layer configuration in a compact housing (51) with top cover (52)

10. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim (1) wherein, the said housing (51) has an integrated liquid cooled cold plate at its bottom with water inlet (53) on the one side and water outlet (514) on the other side of the housing and with micro-channels embedded underneath each of the high power devices of the said transmit chain (10).

11. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim (1) wherein, the said power conditioner (38) includes transmit power amplitude taper means.

12. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim (1) wherein, filtering by the said RF pre-selection filter (30) is realised by a low loss microwave integrated circuit (MIC) band pass filter.

14. A transmit/receive module as claimed in claim (1) wherein, the said control electronics (37) and bias sequencer-modulator (39) a integrated as a part of the receive chain (11).

15. A transmit/receive module for active phased array antenna substantially as described and illustrated herein.