Electronic beam scanning and millimeter-wave power combining using arrays of coupled oscillators

This dissertation deals with the design, fabrication, and testing of electronic beam steering and power combining arrays. A new technique of electronic beam steering using arrays of coupled oscillators is also presented. The radiation pattern can be steered by detuning the free running frequencies of the two end elements in a linear array of coupled oscillators. The limitations of beam steering using this technique are explored. Extensive experimental verification of this technique is presented.; The coupled oscillator beam steering technique requires certain conditions. Strong, zero degree mutual coupling between elements can be implemented using resistively loaded transmission lines. An analysis of the inter-element coupling presented by arbitrary N-port coupling networks is presented. This analysis was experimentally verified using one and two dimensional coupling schemes. World record setting power combining is obtained from a 2 x 6 power combining array using coupling from a two dimensional scheme of resistively loaded transmission lines.