A Design and Fabrication of the X-Band Transmit/Receive Module for Active Phased Array SAR Antennas

In this paper, a X-Band T/R-module for SAR(Synthetic Aperture Radar) systems based on active phased array antennas is designed and fabricated. The T/R modules have a and width of more than 800 MHz centered at X-Band and support dual, switched polarizations. The output power of the module is 7 watts over a wide bandwidth. The noise figure is as low as 3.9 dB. Phase and amplitude are controlled by a 6-bit phase shifter and a 6-bit digital attenuator, respectively. Further the fabricated T/R module has est and calibration port with directional coupler and power divider. Highly integrated T/R module is achieved by using LTCC(Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic) multiple layer substrate. RMS gain error is less than 0.8 dB max. in Rx mode, and RMS phase error is less than max. in Rx/Tx phase under all operating frequency band, or the T/R module meet the required electrical performance m test. This structure an be applied to active phase array SAR Antennas.