Integrated Reflection Amplifier/Phase-Conjugating Mixer Design for Dual-Mode Retrodirective Arrays

In this paper, a novel integrated switchless reflection amplifier/phase-conjugating mixer (RAPM) design for dual-mode active Van Atta/phase-conjugating array is presented. The proposed RAPM comprises a single GaAs heterojunction-FET (HJ-FET) transistor with suitable matching networks. Switchless feature, avoiding using external mixers, and improved backscatter communication are the main advantages of this component for the dual-mode retrodirective array design. Also, to demonstrate the performance of the proposed structure with respect to other reported structures, an integrated RAPM is designed and fabricated which shows an acceptable performance in both modes.