Large aperture scanning membrane phased array antenna for geosynchronous Earth orbit synthetic aperture radar applications

Abstract

A large aperture membrane phased array antenna with an array antenna and transmit/receive (T/R) modules is presented for geosynchronous Earth orbit synthetic aperture radar applications. Its scanning beams can cover ±8° with ignorable grating lobes within its visible area. By utilising the coplanar reintegration technique of multichips, compact and light-weight T/R modules can be achieved. A scaled model is demonstrated and characterised experimentally. Measured results validate the feasibility and efficiency of the design method for the membrane phased array antenna.

Keywords

• earth orbit
• synthetic aperture radar
• antenna phased arrays
• radar antennas
• transmitting antennas
• receiving antennas
• multichip modules
• geosynchronous earth orbit synthetic aperture radar applications
• large aperture scanning membrane phased array antenna
• transmit-receive modules
• coplanar reintegration technique
• multichips