Receiving Phased Antenna Array Based on Injection-Locked Harmonic Self-Oscillating Mixers

• Published in: IEEE transactions on antennas and propagation Vol. 57; no. 3; pp. 645 - 651
• Main Authors: Hoeye, S.V., Vazquez, C., Fernandez, M., Herran, L.F., Las-Heras, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.03.2009; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Antenna arrays; Antennas; Applied sciences; Beam steering; Circuits; Direct current; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency bands; Frequency conversion; Harmonics; Injection-locked oscillators; Microwave antenna arrays; microwave phase shifters; Mixers; Performance gain; Phased arrays; Power harmonic filters; Radiocommunications; Receiving; Receiving antennas; shaped beam antennas; Simulation; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Voltage control; Performance evaluation; Input signal; microwave phase shifters; Phase shift; Mixers (circuits); Output signal; Injection locking; Phased array antenna; Harmonic balance; Step down convertor; Microwave phase shifter; Beam steering; phased arrays; Frequency band; Simulation; Shaped beam antennas; Power control; Oscillator; Frequency converter; Selfoscillation; injection locked oscillators; Receiving antenna; Antenna array; Frequency mixing
• ISSN: 0018-926X; 1558-2221
• DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2009.2013439

A 4 times 1 element receiving phased antenna array is presented with phase-shifter elements based on injection-locked harmonic self-oscillating mixers. Each phase-shifter element provides the double functionality of variable phase-shifter and down-converter. The phase-shifts applied to the input signals coming from the different antenna patch elements can be selected by dc control signals in a continuous range of 450deg. The required dc control voltages are calculated for the different incident angles by means of harmonic balance simulations. The influences of phase-shift and conversion gain errors on the beam-steering frequency performance of the antenna are studied. Also illustrated is how the phase-shifter parameters can be optimized in order to minimize the frequency scanning. A 4 times 1 element receiving phased antenna array, with an input frequency band centered at 11.25 GHz and the output frequency band centered at 1.5 GHz, has been manufactured for the experimental validation of the simulated results. A beam scanning range from -23deg to 23deg has been experimentally obtained.