Abstract: A circuit has at least one amplifier and a signal routing device such as one or more switches, and an array of antenna elements from which some subset must be enabled and processed at a time. The antenna elements can be grouped in accordance with an organization scheme (e.g., rows, columns) to enable more flexibility in selecting and routing the signals. The system is used to create one or more beams, which can be pointed (steered) to a wide range of directions by means of selecting one or more feed antennas in a switched-feed antenna without including full receive and transmit circuitry (DSP, frequency conversion) for each feed in the array. In this case, minimizing the number of DSP chains is desirable to reduce the cost, power, and complexity of the antenna. The resulting beam(s) can be combined and manipulated to support multiple users, track several targets, increase operational range, increase radar resolution, or data-rate in communications.

Abstract: A circuit has at least one amplifier and a signal routing device such as one or more switches, and an array of antenna elements from which some subset must be enabled and processed at a time. The antenna elements can be grouped in accordance with an organization scheme (e.g., rows, columns) to enable more flexibility in selecting and routing the signals. The system is used to create one or more beams, which can be pointed (steered) to a wide range of directions by means of selecting one or more feed antennas in a switched-feed antenna without including full receive and transmit circuitry (DSP, frequency conversion) for each feed in the array. In this case, minimizing the number of DSP chains is desirable to reduce the cost, power, and complexity of the antenna. The resulting beam(s) can be combined and manipulated to support multiple users, track several targets, increase operational range, increase radar resolution, or data-rate in communications.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure improves the linearity of a semiconductor switch. In an embodiment, a capacitor providing variable capacitance is provided between an input terminal and an output terminal of the switch, which results in such a benefit. According to another aspect, the capacitor is realized by multiple varactors connected in series between the input terminal and the output terminal. A biasing network is designed to cause a respective desired voltage to be applied across each varactor for obtaining the variable capacitance.

Abstract: A semiconductor circuit provided according to an aspect of the present disclosure contains a component having an impedance coupled between the body node and the gate node of a first transistor, wherein a magnitude of the impedance is determined by a voltage between the drain node and the source node of the first transistor. In an embodiment, the component comprises a second transistor, a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series across the drain node and the source node of the first transistor, with the first resistor and the second resistor being connected at a first junction. A gate node of the second transistor is coupled to the first junction, a source node of the second transistor is coupled to the body node, and a drain node of the second transistor is coupled to the gate node of the first transistor.

Abstract: A hybrid coupler-based T/R switch for use in a TDM system. An output hybrid coupler of a balanced amplifier is used to selectively switch a transmit or receive path to an antenna. During transmission, power at the output of the balanced amplifier is delivered directly to the antenna. During reception, power from the antenna is reflected through ports of the hybrid coupler connected to respective two amplifiers of the balanced amplifier, to constructively combine at a port of the coupler coupled to the receive path, with a ninety degrees phase shift. A pair of shunting switches or series switches coupled to the ports of the hybrid coupler connected to the two amplifiers, and a shunting switch coupled to the port coupled to the receive path, control operation of the hybrid coupler-based T/R switch.

Abstract: A circuit has at least one amplifier and a signal routing device such as one or more switches, and an array of antenna elements from which some subset must be enabled and processed at a time. The antenna elements can be grouped in accordance with an organization scheme (e.g., rows, columns) to enable more flexibility in selecting and routing the signals. The system is used to create one or more beams, which can be pointed (steered) to a wide range of directions by means of selecting one or more feed antennas in a switched-feed antenna without including full receive and transmit circuitry (DSP, frequency conversion) for each feed in the array. In this case, minimizing the number of DSP chains is desirable to reduce the cost, power, and complexity of the antenna. The resulting beam(s) can be combined and manipulated to support multiple users, track several targets, increase operational range, increase radar resolution, or data-rate in communications.

Abstract: A hybrid coupler-based T/R switch for use in a TDM system. An output hybrid coupler of a balanced amplifier is used to selectively switch a transmit or receive path to an antenna. During transmission, power at the output of the balanced amplifier is delivered directly to the antenna. During reception, power from the antenna is reflected through ports of the hybrid coupler connected to respective two amplifiers of the balanced amplifier, to constructively combine at a port of the coupler coupled to the receive path, with a ninety degrees phase shift. A pair of shunting switches coupled to the ports of the hybrid coupler connected to the two amplifiers, and a shunting switch coupled to the port coupled to the receive path, control operation of the hybrid coupler-based T/R switch.

Abstract: A hybrid coupler-based T/R switch for use in a TDM system. An output hybrid coupler of a balanced amplifier is used to selectively switch a transmit or receive path to an antenna. During transmission, power at the output of the balanced amplifier is delivered directly to the antenna. During reception, power from the antenna is reflected through ports of the hybrid coupler connected to respective two amplifiers of the balanced amplifier, to constructively combine at a port of the coupler coupled to the receive path, with a ninety degrees phase shift. A pair of shunting switches coupled to the ports of the hybrid coupler connected to the two amplifiers, and a shunting switch coupled to the port coupled to the receive path, control operation of the hybrid coupler-based T/R switch.

Abstract: A THz device includes: an antenna electrode capable of transmitting and receiving a THz wave to free space; first transmission lines capable of transmitting the THz wave, the first transmission lines respectively connected to the antenna electrodes; an active element of which a main electrode is connected to each of the first transmission lines; second transmission lines capable of transmitting the THz wave, the second transmission lines connected to the first active device; pad electrodes respectively connected to the second transmission lines; and a low-pass filter with respect to the THz wave, the low-pass filter connected to the pad electrodes, wherein impedance matching of between the antenna electrode and the active element is performed by an impedance conversion of the first transmission lines. The THz device is capable of the high-efficiency matching between the active element and the antenna due to the impedance conversion effect of the transmission line.

Abstract: A THz device includes: an antenna electrode capable of transmitting and receiving a THz wave to free space; first transmission lines capable of transmitting the THz wave, the first transmission lines respectively connected to the antenna electrodes; an active element of which a main electrode is connected to each of the first transmission lines; second transmission lines capable of transmitting the THz wave, the second transmission lines connected to the first active device; pad electrodes respectively connected to the second transmission lines; and a low-pass filter with respect to the THz wave, the low-pass filter connected to the pad electrodes, wherein impedance matching of between the antenna electrode and the active element is performed by an impedance conversion of the first transmission lines. The THz device is capable of the high-efficiency matching between the active element and the antenna due to the impedance conversion effect of the transmission line.