AN AIRBORNE PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA BASED ON A NOVEL MINIATURIZED OPTICAL TRUE-TIME-DELAY MODULE

The proliferation of wireless and satellite-to-satellite communications makes the phased-array antenna approach the most attractive due to its agility and accuracy in angular scanning and its security in operation.In this program, Radiant Research, Inc. (RRI) proposes a drastically new compact detector switch waveguide true-time-delay line (TTD) module that offers improved performance at reduced cost and payload. TTD up to 50 nsec with 0.1 ps resolution can be implemented within the RF spectrum of 1 GHz to 40 GHz which can be easily covered using semiconductor-laser-based optical heterodyne technique developed by RRI. The 2 MB/s to 600 MB/s data rates will be provided by the direct modulation of a laser diode. Unlike any conventional approach where one TTD line can provide only one delay signal at a time, the proposed true-time-delay module is capable of generating all required optical true-time delay signals simultaneously to all antenna elements. Th application of the wavelength-division-multiplexing technique makes the formation of a twin-beam phased array an easy task without increasing the payload of an airborne or spaceborne platform.By the end of Phase I, we will demonstrate all the after mentioned unique features to build a solid cornerstone for the success of the Phase II program.