• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2012

This paper describes the transmit/receive(T/R) module for the space based X-band active phased array radar. T/R module is the integrated module which is assembled by the transmitting and receiving RF semiconductor devices to enable the electronically beam steering of the phased array antenna and the key component of the SAR payload. T/R module can selectively receive the polarization signals by the switch according to the established technology but now the technological trend of the T/R module is to receive the horizontal and vertical polarization signal simultaneously. Therefore the research and development of the dual polarization receiving channel T/R module is actively in progress. In this study, as the prior research for the next generation SAR payload, the technological trend of the active phased array radar T/R module and the result of the preliminary design of the dual receiving channel T/R module were described.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.389-398
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• 2011

In this paper, the design and fabrication of a transmit/receive(T/R) module for Ka-band phased array radar is presented. A 5bit digital phase shifter and digital attenuator were used in common for both transmitter and receiver considering unique Ka-band characteristic. The circulator was excluded in the T/R module and was placed outside T/R module. The transmitting power per element antenna is designed to be about 1 W and the noise figure is designed to be below 8 dB. The designed T/R module RF part has a compact size of $5\;mm{\times}4\;mm{\times}57\;mm$. In order to implement the T/R module, MMICs used in T/R module was separately assessed before assembly of the designed T/R module. The transmitter of the fabricated T/R module shows about 1 W at 5 dBm unit module input power and the receiver shows a gain of about 20 dB and a noise figure of below 8 dB as expected in the design stage.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1380-1387
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• 2012

The transmit/receive(T/R) module is a key component in the active phased array system. The brick-type T/R module has been widely used and the miniaturization has been an important factor to get the flexibility of the system configuration. For the miniaturization, multi-function chips(MFC) having a common leg configuration are suitable to reduce the number of required MMICs and a high isolation between transmit and receive paths is necessary for the high gain T/R modules. In this work, we propose a bias timing scheme for the compact T/R module and show the optimum timing based on measurements, in order to improve the feed-back path loop problem and the consequent isolation problem of the common leg configuration. We have implemented high power(7 W/channel) and high T/R gain(35 dB transmit and 30 dB receive gains) within the half size($140{\times}80{\times}16mm^3$) of the conventional T/R modules.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.168-173
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• 2008

In this paper, we have designed transmit/receive Module for X band which can be applied to active phase array radar system. AESA(active electrically beam steered array) is able to transmit high power as like TWTA with composition of TH Module and steer a main beam faster than mechanically steering system. The proposed structure of T/R Module for X band is brick type for physical structure, common leg structure electrically and small size design as MCM(multi chip module). The results show that the characteristic of proposed T/R module can fully cover the specification of required military radar application.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.940-945
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• 2008

In this paper, we have designed the Brick Transmit/Receive Module for K-band which can be applied to active phase array radar system. The proposed structure of T/R Module for K band is brick type for MCM(Multi Chip Module) form and the satisfaction of tile type T/R Module can apply to structure of cavity and main characteristic. The fabricated brick type T/R Module confirmed the main characteristic for electrical goal performance in test and this structure can be applied to active phase array radar.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1243-1251
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• 2009

This paper presents design and test results of X-Band Transmit/Receive(T/R) module for active phased-array radar. Active phased array radars typically require solid state T/R modules with high output power, low noise figure, high Third Order Intercept(TOI), and sufficient gain in both transmit and receive. The output power of the module is 9 watts over a wide bandwidth. The noise figure is as low as 2.8 dB. Phase and amplitude are controlled by the 6-bit phase shifter and 5-bit attenuator, respectively. Highly integrated T/R module is achieved by using LTCC(Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic) multiple layer substrate. The module incorporates a compact digital interface, requires only three supply voltages.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.130-136
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• 2014

This paper reviews the research on silicon based phased array system operating from microwave to millimeter wave frequencies. First, the design of phase shifter using CMOS technology is presented. The passive phase shifter is applied to the transmit/receive module from one to 16 channel in a single chip. The 35 GHz 4-element T/R module consumes less than 200 mW both transmit and receive modes. The architecture can extend to 16-channel operating at 44 GHz, thereby improving transmit power and linearity. The Ku-band 2-antenna 4-element receiver was developed using active phase shifter based on vector sum method. It is important to minimize coupling between beams because the chip contains four independent beams. The method of coupling is presented and verified.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1050-1060
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• 2009

In this paper, a X-Band T/R-module for SAR(Synthetic Aperture Radar) systems based on active phased array antennas is designed and fabricated. The T/R modules have a and width of more than 800 MHz centered at X-Band and support dual, switched polarizations. The output power of the module is 7 watts over a wide bandwidth. The noise figure is as low as 3.9 dB. Phase and amplitude are controlled by a 6-bit phase shifter and a 6-bit digital attenuator, respectively. Further the fabricated T/R module has est and calibration port with directional coupler and power divider. Highly integrated T/R module is achieved by using LTCC(Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic) multiple layer substrate. RMS gain error is less than 0.8 dB max. in Rx mode, and RMS phase error is less than $4^{\circ}$ max. in Rx/Tx phase under all operating frequency band, or the T/R module meet the required electrical performance m test. This structure an be applied to active phase array SAR Antennas.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1467-1474
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• 2010

A tile type active T/R(Transmit/Receive) module for X-band active array radar is demonstrated in this paper. Proposed tile type structure based on fuzz button solderless vertical interconnection shows wide band characteristic of about 30 % bandwidth in X-band with insertion loss of below 0.6 dB and input and output VSWR of less than 1.7. Moreover, the mismatching generally appeared in the vertical interconnection which shown wide band characteristic can also be minimized and, therefore, good gain flatness can be achieved.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1380-1393
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• 2010

This paper presents a design, fabrication and the test results of planar active electronically scanned array(AESA) radar prototype for airborne fighter applications using transmit/receive(T/R) module hybrid technology. LIG Nex1 developed a AESA radar prototype to obtain key technologies for airborne fighter's radar. The AESA radar prototype consists of a radiating array, T/R modules, a RF manifold, distributed power supplies, beam controllers, compact receivers with ADC(Analog-to-Digital Converter), a liquid-cooling unit, and an appropriate structure. The AESA antenna has a 590 mm-diameter, active-element area capable of containing 536 T/R modules. Each module is located to provide a triangle grid with $14.7\;mm{\times}19.5\;mm$ spacing among T/R modules. The array dissipates 1,554 watts, with a DC input of 2,310 watts when operated at the maximum transmit duty factor. The AESA radar prototype was tested on near-field chamber and the results become equal in expected beam pattern, providing the accurate and flexible control of antenna beam steering and beam shaping.