Development results of partial model of a Ka-band active phased array antenna for gigabit satellite

The high data rate and global satellite communication systems are expected to be an improvement agenda to the social and economic activities in the 21 st century. The experimental high data rate (gigabit) communications satell ite is required to face the technological challenges of the future growing multi-media applications. For this gigabit communications system, a Ka-band scanning spot beam antenna (SSBA) which realizes multiple beam forming is required. CRL and MELCO have been developing Ka-band active phased array an tenna (APAA) for the SSBA as one of the most important and challenging tech nology. An APAA has been developed mainly for radar systems for many years. CRL and MELCO are investigating and developing the direct radiating APAA for commu nication satellites which can operate under wide frequency band in Ka-band. This paper describes the preliminary study results of the Ka-band APAA for gigabit satellite and the radiation performances of the partial experimenta l model of Ka-band APAA with two multiple beams to both transmit and receiv e signals. The partial model includes the active MMIC device such as HPA (high power a mplifier), LNA (low noise amplifier) and PS (phase shifter), and multi-laye red BFN (beam forming network) as key components. Performances such as radi ation pattern, beam scanning performance and input-output performance have been measured. We also verified that the REV (rotating element electric-fie ld vector) method was effective for pattern calibration. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.