Research On X - Band Dual - Polarized T / R Components Based On LTCC Technology

Spaceborne SAR instruments operationg in X-Band with active phased array antennas are becoming reality now. T/R Modules suitable for SAR instruments, one of the key elements of the kind of antenna, have to fulfil very demanding requirements as given by the challenging electrical and environmental conditions in space. A further aspect that is getting more and more important is the size and weight of these modules in volumes of several handreds or even thousands per SAR system, another aspect that for increasing the target information needs the active antenna can be operated in all polarization. Therefore to make a forward research in technology of minimizing design and double mode is very necessary, the LTCC’s multi-layer substrate and developed housing concept provide its lowest mass and size possible.The paper has discussed in detail the method and the technology for implement of a double mode and small size X-Band T/R module. At first, the principal and construction of T/R module are introduced, and then the scheme and process. In the next seccesion the key problems are discussed. EMC should be first of all to consider and some solutions to it are provided; And the jionting technology is the critical technique for realizing the interconnection of microwave multichip module (MCM), which is also introduced here; then the paper gives the test sysytem including the test software of the T/R module, and also gives the test data and its analyzing of a set of 32 T/R modules; the environment examination of the modules before the practical application is introduced in the following seccesion. Finally, the paper has given some tips on inporving the T/R module in the future.The design resulted in a double mode and very small and low-weight module, which enables a phase/gain-quantisation of 5°and 0.5dB respectively, with a very compact size of 75×22×9.5mm3 and an extremely low weight of less than 48 grams. The module’s output power is more than 6 Watts and the nose figure is as low as 4.5dB. Its overall module efficiency is better than 15%.