SBIR-STTR Award

Coupled oscillator arrays provide electronic beam-steering for phased array antennas without the need for RF phase shifters. However, Defense systems require a large number of elements in the phased array antenna to generate antenna patterns with narrow beamwidth. This proposal outlines the simulation, fabrication, and testing of a one-dimensional coupled oscillator array in a 180nm SiGe BiCMOS process with as many as sixteen individual oscillators on a single chip. At this point in time, sixteen element arrays of coupled oscillators have not been demonstrated in silicon integrated circuits. This proposal recognizes several implementation challenges to wide angle beam steering using coupled oscillators including managing oscillator mismatches, demonstrating low oscillator phase noise, and avoiding undesirable oscillator coupling through the substrate and packaging. Therefore, our approach will develop analytical tools for the circuit level simulation of the integrated oscillator and the development of behavioral models which link the Van der Pol dynamics of the oscillator to the performance of the integrated circuits. Co-design between the oscillator behavioral models and integrated circuit simulations will provide a high degree of accuracy in predicting the beam-steering performance of the proof-of-concept coupled oscillator array.

Benefit:
The use of this technology will have considerable impact on directional antenna technology in the following market segments Aviation Automotive steerable WiFi Collision avoidance systems Car to car communication Directional communications Handheld communications Mobile TV electronic steerable antenna Electronically steerable radar Mobile RFID

Keywords:
Non linear Array, Non linear Array, Fractional N synthesizer, Van Der Pol Oscillators, RFIC, S C and X Band Oscillators, Edge De-Tuned array, Oscillator Array, Fully Integrated VCO

Tahoe RFs will develop BeamDirect, 0x9D a phased array beam forming & beam steering system which incorporates the LO Phase Shifting technology developed during the Phase I activities. The system will perform as a broad band phase array antenna receiver from 100 MHz to a 6 GHz in conjunction with a circular broadband antenna. This system will provide exceptional SNR and BER and is targeted to improve it by as much as 12 dB over current systems. The system will be designed, partitioned and implemented on up to three ICs or Chips. The configuration of these chips in the system is determined by the end application and system integration issues. In each of these configurations, the three chips or modules being developed are: 1. BeamDirect LO Generation Chip 2. BeamDirect Front end Chip 3. BeamDirect Receive Chip During the phase 2, Tahoe RF will complete the system design of the BeamDirect 0x9D system and will then design of BeamDirect LO Generation Chip, which incorporates the technology developed in Phase 1. BeamDirect will be implemented as a compact and highly programmable monolithic beam-steering solution for circular antennas which will significantly enhance SWaP (Size, Weight & Power) metric of such a system.

Benefit:
The benefits realized by BeamDirect system are as follows: 1. Broadband Phase Array Antenna System from 100 MHz to 6GHz 2. Improved BER and SNR of the Phase Array Antennas up to 12dB 3. A improved SWaP metric for the Phase Array Antennas 4. Improved Beamforming and BeamSteering capability. 5. Flexible configuration of the system to enable installation on multiple platforms 6. Extend the range of antenna by up to a factor of 4. Other DoD applications: 1. A monolithic module replacement for the discrete system in Ships Signal Exploitation Equipment (SSEE Increment G) Development Program. 2. With the improved SWaP metric, ability to use BeamDirect on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Unmanned Undersea Vehicles. Commercial

Benefits:
This technology has significant application in the commercial world. Some of the applications that BeamDirect could be beneficially applied are: 1. Automotive (market size 10s of millions of units per year) o Collision Avoidance Systems o Driver Aides such as Parking Assistance o Driver Replacement 0x9D Traffic Throughput Optimization. This could potentially conserve millions of gallons of gasoline per year 2. Agriculture (market size 10s of thousands of units per year) 3. Avionics (market size thousands of units per year) o Collision Avoidance o Sophisticated Weather Radar 4. Microwave Links in Multipath Environments (market size 100s of thousands of units per year) 5. Handheld Communications (market size 100s of millions of units) o Beamforming WiFi o Beamforming Cellular Communications (LTE and beyond) o Mobile TV Electronically Steerable Antenna 6. Industrial (market size 10s of thousands of units) o Object identification o Object location o Driverless Equipment (such as forklifts) 7. RFID (market size 100s of millions of units per year)

Keywords:
Beam-Forming and Beam-Steering Systems, Lightly Coupled Systems, Monolithic Integrated Circuits, non-linear systems, UHF Receivers, Phase Array Antenna Receivers, Broadband Receivers, LO-Phase Shifting VCO Arrays