Electronically Variable Time-Delay Network for Broad-Band Phased-Array Steering

This paper describes an electronically variable time-elay network that has been developed specffically for time-delay steering of a phased-array antenna. The network consists of microwave dispersive delay lines and two broad-band mixers; its delay is a function of the mixers' local oscillator frequency. The particularly advantageous feature of this network is that its phase is invariant with delay. It can, therefore, be used on a subarray basis, and at IF, without affecting the phase progression across the array. Alternative techniques, such as electron-beam delay lines and digitally switched line lengths, require external phase correction. A breadboard model of the network has been built and tested. Low-loss folded-tape meader lines provide the dispersive delay. The center frequency of the model is 3 GHz; it handles an instantaneous bandwidth of 300 MHz. Delay variation of 25 ns is provided. The spurious responses of the network are 30 dB down.