A fully packaged true time delay module for a K-band phased array antenna system demonstration

Abstract

A 1-to-64 [6-bit(2/sup 6/)] optical true-time delay module is designed, fabricated, and packaged for squint-free beam steering in phased array antennas, providing linear time delays ranging from 0 to 443.03 ps. The phases versus RF frequencies are measured to verify that the time delay is independent of RF frequencies. The optical true-time delay module is integrated into a K-band (18-26.5 GHz) phased-array antenna system. Far-field patterns at different frequencies over the entire K-band are measured and compared with simulated results to verify the system's wide instantaneous RF bandwidth. The Q factor is measured to be 10.20 of the true-time delay optical link transmitting 2.5-Gb/s random digital signal.