TY - GEN
T1 - A novel phase-shifterless beam steering method for RF phase arrays using monolithic 1-D coupled-VCOs with integrated MOSFET switches
AU - Lopez, J.
AU - Lie, D. Y.C.
AU - Cothern, J.
AU - Neff, J.
AU - Meadows, B. K.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - A fully monolithic 1-Dimensional (1-D) AC-coupled Voltage-Controlled- Oscillators (VCOs) network design for phased-array applications will be presented in this paper. This radio-frequency (RF) VCO array integrates on-chip inductors, varactors, and bias current sources and it contains an odd number of VCOs (i.e., 3 or 5, etc.) AC-coupled through on-chip switchable resistor networks with MOSFETs. Realistic circuit simulations in IBM 7HP 0.18μm BiCMOS design kit indicate promising results of the 1-D coupled-VCO array. Based on the simulation data and the current measured data that has been consistent with the simulation results, our design is able to control the phasing of this on-chip VCO-array by means of tuning the edge elements and/or by varying the coupling strength via the resistive coupling network digitally controlled with the MOS switches. This AC-coupled 1-D VCO array shows some great potential for RF active antennas applications to perform wide angle beam steering without the need for bulky phase shifters for the highly utilized S-band.
AB - A fully monolithic 1-Dimensional (1-D) AC-coupled Voltage-Controlled- Oscillators (VCOs) network design for phased-array applications will be presented in this paper. This radio-frequency (RF) VCO array integrates on-chip inductors, varactors, and bias current sources and it contains an odd number of VCOs (i.e., 3 or 5, etc.) AC-coupled through on-chip switchable resistor networks with MOSFETs. Realistic circuit simulations in IBM 7HP 0.18μm BiCMOS design kit indicate promising results of the 1-D coupled-VCO array. Based on the simulation data and the current measured data that has been consistent with the simulation results, our design is able to control the phasing of this on-chip VCO-array by means of tuning the edge elements and/or by varying the coupling strength via the resistive coupling network digitally controlled with the MOS switches. This AC-coupled 1-D VCO array shows some great potential for RF active antennas applications to perform wide angle beam steering without the need for bulky phase shifters for the highly utilized S-band.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78649308095&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/ARRAY.2010.5613296
DO - 10.1109/ARRAY.2010.5613296
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:78649308095
SN - 9781424451272
T3 - IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology
SP - 660
EP - 664
BT - 2010 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, Array 2010
T2 - 4th IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, Array 2010
Y2 - 12 October 2010 through 15 October 2010
ER -