A Hybrid-Integrated K-/Ka-Band Phased Array Module With Dual-Polarized Shared Aperture

In this work, a passive dual-polarized shared antenna aperture and active beamformer front-ends are integrated into a phased array module. The system operates in the K-/Ka-band and is intended for satellite communications. It consists of a hybrid assembly of aluminum waveguide components and printed circuit boards that are electrically connected by anisotropic conductive adhesive, containing a heterodyne transceiver with L-band interfaces. For proof of concept, a demonstrator with 64 transmit (Tx) and 32 receive (Rx) elements is fabricated and characterized. It provides full-duplex Tx/Rx operation with bandwidths of 1 GHz centered around 29.5 (Tx) and 19.5 GHz (Rx), beam scanning over wide angular ranges up to 60° in both H- and E-planes, an equivalent isotropic radiated power of up to 20.4 dBW at 1-dB power compression and an Rx gain to noise temperature ratio of up to −10.2 dB/K at room temperature. The measured performances are comparable to those of phased array systems with separate apertures and thus validate the integration approach.