TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMW 120 / Service Cryptologic Carry-on Program

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Utilize advanced technology and design concepts with nonlinear dynamics to develop a Phase-Shifterless RF Phase Array Antenna systems. We plan to use novel coupled Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Networks to realize small and phase-shifterless efficient phase arrays antennas capable of supporting wideband software-defined radio communication systems.

DESCRIPTION: The concept of phase-array antennas has been around for several decades [1-2]. Various active antenna array systems have been used in Department of Defense (DoD) applications with digital signal processing to improve signal reception and anti-jamming properties (i.e., smart-antenna systems [2]). Those RF systems are high cost and mostly bulky and complicated in control electronics and matching, making them very difficult to be miniaturized for commercial applications. However, due to the recent technological advancement, there has been a strong interest to integrate phase-array networks in a ‘system-on-chip (SoC)’ fashion for use in S, C, and X bands [2-3]. This is because the integration level of RF Integrated Circuits (ICs) has exhibited dramatic progress during the last decade. Furthermore, it has become increasingly clear that areas as diverse as signal processing, communication, sensors, lasers, and biomedical anomalies such as epilepsy have a common underlying thread: the dynamics that governs these systems are inherently nonlinear. However, while significant progress in the theory of nonlinear phenomena have been made, there exist comparatively few commercial or military devices that actually designed to take advantage of this nonlinear dynamics. For example, there have been virtually no publications on RF performance-compliance active antenna using nonlinear dynamics for any wireless standard today, either for military or for commercial use [4,5]. Our research therefore targets to advance nonlinear dynamics knowledge for realizing state-of-the-art active antenna systems for DoD applications. This research program is to provide a proof-of-concept for the operation of phase-shiferless active antenna arrays that exploit nonlinear system dynamics using coupled VCO arrays for wideband transmit and/or receive phase array antenna systems. This technology has a great potential to enhanced affordability related to acquisition, performance and maintenance of a warfighting system.

PHASE I: Identify near-term and long-term innovative fully-monolithic coupled-VCO array design approaches for the development of an efficient phase-shifterless active antenna arrays that exploit nonlinear system dynamics by using coupled VCO arrays. Demonstrate the feasibility by SPICE simulation of a unit cell design of such active antenna can be formed by using a nonlinear VCO integrated circuit (IC) to drive a passive antenna element. Demonstrate the feasibility of an active phase array antenna can be formed by using a nonlinear 1-Dimensional (1-D) coupled-VCO array to drive a 1-D passive antenna network. A coupled on-chip variable resistive network as a switching network will be introduced in this design to attain element-to-element phase variation without the need for phase shifters according to realistic SPICE simulation data. Demonstrate the capability of beam-steering range of over +/-60° from broad-side by modeling and simulation analysis without the bulky phase-shifters. Develop preliminary design complete with documentation that will provide proof-of-functionality.

PHASE II: Validate by testing the coupled-VCO array design through development, fabrication and test of a prototype that functionally meets the performance objectives and requirements of a scanning range of +/-60° from broad-side for phase-shifterless phase-array antenna systems. Provide measured electrical RF performance to include the frequency ranges, scanning angles, power consumption, coupling-strengths, gain, etc. Make required changes to the design if required. One goal is to transition and commercialize this technology by developing working relationships with the relevant electronic warfare systems and contractors.

NOTE: We think that it is possible, not probable, that the RF IC capabilities could be classified in Phase II.

PHASE III: Validate the phase-shifterless phase array antenna design through development, fabrication and test of a prototype that functionally meets the performance objectives and requirements. Provide electrical RF performance to include scanning range, frequency range, VSWR, gain, radiation patterns, and power handling. Demonstrate that the mechanical and physical design approach will be suitable for DoD applications. Make required changes to the design if required.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: A large commercial potential exists for highly integrated/synergistic structures in the aerospace, automobile, wireless and infrastructure industries.

DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The development of an improved antenna technology can be incorporated into the existing radio communication systems that will increase their operating performance and will reduce the overall operating and support costs.

REFERENCES:
1. Y. Kuramoto, "Chemical Oscillations, Waves, and Turbulence", Springer, Berlin, (1984)

2. Y. Qian and T. Itoh, "Progress in active integrated antennas and their applications," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech.,, Vol.46, pp.1891-1900 Nov. (1998)

3. X. Guan et al., "A fully integrated 24-GHz Eight-Element Phase-Array Receiver in Silicon," IEEE J. of Solid-State Circuits, Vol.39, pp.2311-2320, Dec. (2004)

4. Z.B. Popovic et al., "A 100-MESFET planar grid oscillator," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., Vol.39, pp.193-200, Feb. (1991)

5. R.A.York, "Oscillator array dynamics with broadband N-Port coupling network," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., Vol.42, pp.2040-2045, Nov. (1994)

KEYWORDS: phase shifters, gain; phased-array antenna, wideband RF beamformer, switching networks, JTRS