A true-time-delay transmit/receive module for X-band subarray phased arrays

Abstract

This letter presents the implementation of a 6-bit true-time-delay (TTD) transmit/receive (T/R) module in X-band. Improved phase linearity is achieved by using thin film coplanar waveguide transmission lines than traditional microstrip lines or lumped LC components of the most other TTD designs. In order to meet the requirement of the large dynamic temperature range in practice, the hybrid coupler reflective phase shifters with varactor diodes are adopted in long-time-delay units as temperature compensations for thermal phase drift. Experimental results of this TTD T/R module are carried out within a bandwidth of 1.2 GHz at X-band. The gain flatness is better than 1 dB and RMSE of the phase errors is less than 7° in all the transmitting and receiving delay states.