A HYBRID NONLINEAR DELAY LINE-BASED BROAD-BAND PHASED ANTENNA-ARRAY SYSTEM

Nonlinear delay line (NDL) technology has been utilized to implement a proof-of-principle, broadband, 8-channel, linear, hybrid NDL-based ph ased antenna array (PAA) system. The hybrid NDL's provide up to 267-ps analog, variable true time delay (TTD) with <5-dB measured insertion loss. A PAA system incorporating aide-band feed, transition, and anten na elements has been developed for broad-band (4-18 GHz), electronical ly controlled beam steering. The current system has demonstrated up to +/-18 degrees beam steering from 4 to 5 GHz, and +/-6 degrees at 6 GH z in good agreement with theoretical predictions; monolithic implement ations have been designed to provide +/-19 degrees beam steering at fr equencies up to 18 GHz and are currently being fabricated. This system provides a wide-band, low-cost, high-precision alternative to convent ional PAA technologies.