Ball, E.A. orcid.org/0000-0002-6283-5949 and Tennant , A. (2017) Antenna Beam Steering Without Phase Shifters – an ‘Old’ Technique Revisited. In: Proceedings of Automated RF & Microwave Measurement Society (ARMMS). Automated RF & Microwave Measurement Society (ARMMS) Conference, 13-14 Nov 2017, Wyboston Lakes, Wyboston. Automated RF & Microwave Measurement Society (ARMMS)
Abstract
Antenna arrays are of perennial interest and relevance to RF wireless system designers, indeed the rise of 5G is showing their importance is only growing. Most implementations of linear arrays use phase shifters to feed the array and hence form the main-lobe beam. In the 1960s, a technique using RF switches and Fourier analysis was discovered to be a viable alternative to phase shifters - called the Time Modulated Array (TMA). Little modern research has been conducted in this area, despite its likely cost-effective implementation and technical relevance. This paper presents a brief overview of the TMA, followed by our work into prediction and control of the RF harmonic levels in TMAs. The effect of RF ramping on the switching waveform is analysed first, followed by a novel way of reducing the carrier fundamental (due to the Fourier DC term) produced by TMAs. Finally, a novel RF transistor cascode fast switch is introduced, using 3 gain states, to pragmatically implement the reduction of the carrier fundamental. The transistor cascode in the TMA utilizes binary logic control interfaces, rather than analogue control interfaces, for hardware efficiency. Early simulation results are included.
Metadata
Item Type: | Proceedings Paper |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 The Author(s). For reuse permissions, please contact the Author(s). |
Keywords: | Antenna phase shifters; Fourier DC term removal; RF Cascode Switch; Time Modulated Array |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Engineering (Sheffield) > Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 22 Nov 2017 12:35 |
Last Modified: | 22 Nov 2017 12:45 |
Published Version: | http://www.armms.org/conferences/?conference=66 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Automated RF & Microwave Measurement Society (ARMMS) |
Refereed: | Yes |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:124096 |