The objective of this proposal is to utilize our advanced technology and design concepts with nonlinear dynamics to develop phase-shifterless RF phase array antenna systems. We plan to use monolithic and fully-integrated novel coupled Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) arrays to realize small and phase-shifterless efficient phase arrays antennas capable of supporting wideband software-defined radio communication systems. We will demonstrate the prototype operation and feasibility of these monolithic coupled VCO arrays to replace the bulky and expensive phase-shifters commonly used for the current active antenna array systems. We will exploit nonlinear dynamics of the monolithic and mutually coupled VCO arrays for wideband wireless receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) applications.
Benefit: Because a large commercial potential also exists for highly integrated/synergistic structures in the aerospace, automobile, wireless and infrastructure industries, the development of an improved antenna technology as proposed here can be incorporated into the existing radio communication systems that will increase their operating performance and will reduce the overall operating and support costs. Currently, the phase arrays systems used for most DoD applications are rather bulky and expensive, such that their usage are often limited on solid frame military applications such as helicopters, airplanes, ships, or mobile military base-stations. Today, the Joint Tactics Radio System (JTRS) program intents to unite all radio protocols and systems such that they can always be interoperable, which demands wideband, on-the-fly adjustable circuits that can help to ensure the interoperability of all of the radios involved in the network. Our monolithic phase-shifterless active phase array technology is, therefore, very attractive for JTRS radios, especially for mobile portable applications. Active phase array antennas provide the solution to several of the fundamental problems of transmission-line loss, power limitation, antenna efficiencies, hardware size reduction. The sensitivity of the Rx active phase array system can also significantly enhanced the system SNR due to the noise sources are not correlated.
Keywords: Highly Non-Linear systems, Spatial Power Combining, mutually coupled VCO(s), coupling networks, Active Phase Array, Beam Steering
