RECONFIGURABLE TIME-STEERED ARRAY-ANTENNA BEAM FORMER

We present and analyze a hardware-optimized technique that provides tr ue-time-delay steering for broadband two-dimensional array-antenna app lications. The technique improves on previous approaches by the reduct ion of the two-dimensional beam-former architecture complexity, by the provision of flexibility in time-delay unit section, and by the poten tial reduction of optical loss. The technique relies on a one-dimensio nal bank of time-delay units to form the required time-delay gradient for proper off-broadside angle steering. A reconfigurable optical inte rconnection fabric is used to reassign dynamically the connections bet ween the time-delay units and individual array elements of a two-dimen sional array to effect the proper steering angle the off-broadside con e.