Design, Simulation and Performance Analysis of Phased Array 16 × 16 TR Module

Abstract

Phased arrays were initially used for defence radars to detect track enemy planes and missiles, deep space communications, radio astronomy. However, the multiple advantages of higher gain, beam steering capability, higher SNR value and reliability of the phased array systems compelled us to use them in wide range of civilian use like weather monitoring, satellite, autonomous car driving and 5G communications. In this paper an attempt is made to design and simulate 16 × 16 (256 antenna array) TR module using Keysight SystemVue software. The phased array antenna is configured with 16 × 16 Uniform Rectangular Array with a distance between elements equal to 0.015 m (which matches to half wavelength for a frequency of 10 GHz). The performance of TR module is configured to sweep the input frequency from 5 GHz to 15 GHz in steps of 1 GHz. This sweep is used to measure Directivity, G/T, and Total Gain over the frequency and it has been observed that as the frequency increases, the Directivity, G/T, and Total Gain all increase as well. In the Directivity Pattern graph, it can be noted that as the frequency increases the beam becomes narrower. The designed TR module will be helpful in evaluating various components like Antennas, Power amplifier, Low Noise Amplifiers, splitters, couplers, attenuators and switches.