Coded aperture subreflector array for high resolution radar imaging

Jonathan J. Lynch; Florian Herrault; Keerti Kona; Gabriel Virbila; Chuck McGuire; Mike Wetzel; Helen Fung; Eric Prophet

doi:10.1117/12.2258694

11 May 2017 Coded aperture subreflector array for high resolution radar imaging

Jonathan J. Lynch, Florian Herrault, Keerti Kona, Gabriel Virbila, Chuck McGuire, Mike Wetzel, Helen Fung, Eric Prophet

Proceedings Volume 10189, Passive and Active Millimeter-Wave Imaging XX; 101890I (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2258694
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2017, Anaheim, CA, United States

Abstract

HRL Laboratories has been developing a new approach for high resolution radar imaging on stationary platforms. High angular resolution is achieved by operating at 235 GHz and using a scalable tile phased array architecture that has the potential to realize thousands of elements at an affordable cost. HRL utilizes aperture coding techniques to minimize the size and complexity of the RF electronics needed for beamforming, and wafer level fabrication and integration allow tiles containing 1024 elements to be manufactured with reasonable costs. This paper describes the results of an initial feasibility study for HRL’s Coded Aperture Subreflector Array (CASA) approach for a 1024 element micromachined antenna array with integrated single-bit phase shifters. Two candidate electronic device technologies were evaluated over the 170 - 260 GHz range, GaN HEMT transistors and GaAs Schottky diodes. Array structures utilizing silicon micromachining and die bonding were evaluated for etch and alignment accuracy. Finally, the overall array efficiency was estimated to be about 37% (not including spillover losses) using full wave array simulations and measured device performance, which is a reasonable value at 235 GHz. Based on the measured data we selected GaN HEMT devices operated passively with 0V drain bias due to their extremely low DC power dissipation.

Citation Download Citation

Jonathan J. Lynch, Florian Herrault, Keerti Kona, Gabriel Virbila, Chuck McGuire, Mike Wetzel, Helen Fung, and Eric Prophet "Coded aperture subreflector array for high resolution radar imaging", Proc. SPIE 10189, Passive and Active Millimeter-Wave Imaging XX, 101890I (11 May 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2258694

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