Abstract:
In this thesis ,we propose a microwave switched beamformer (MSBF) receiver
design, which is a Microwave Beamforming technique, where the antenna elements
signals are switched and corresponding phase shift is controlled. A prototype of the
MSBF structure consisting of a four-element microstrip patch antenna array with phase
shifter is implemented and verified experimentally. In the design process of antenna
array the first step in our work is to design a feed network consisting of a power
combiner and the switched control phase shifter. The Wilkinson power combiner is
implemented as it minimizes the reflection of electromagnetic waves from each output
arm of the combiner network. In its basic form, Wilkinson power combiner combines the
input signals from each branch of antenna array to give a single output signal with equal
phase or 180 degree phase shift in any branch. In this thesis, MSBF structure is
implemented with p-i-n diode based switched phase shifter. Since the cost of the phase
shifters increases the price tag of the array antenna, low cost and conformal phase shifters
are always on demand. A new switch design, which is more compact in size, cost
effective and superior in performance is presented. The structure scattering parameters
are measured for different switching states. An integrated simulation of complete
switched beamformer structure for all switching combination is presented. One of the
switching combination structure for the microwave switched beamformer (MSBF)
receiver is fabricated and tested.
