• Login
    View Item 
    •   SMARTech Home
    • Georgia Tech Theses and Dissertations
    • Georgia Tech Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   SMARTech Home
    • Georgia Tech Theses and Dissertations
    • Georgia Tech Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Development and integration of silicon-germanium front-end electronics for active phased-array antennas

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    coen_christopher_t_201208_mast.pdf (3.191Mb)
    Date
    2012-07-05
    Author
    Coen, Christopher T.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    The research presented in this thesis leverages silicon-germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) technology to develop microwave front-end electronics for active phased-array antennas. The highly integrated electronics will reduce costs and improve the feasibility of snow measurements from airborne and space-borne platforms. Chapter 1 presents the motivation of this research, focusing on the technological needs of snow measurement missions. The fundamentals and benefits of SiGe HBTs and phased-array antennas for these missions are discussed as well. Chapter 2 discusses SiGe power amplifier design considerations for radar systems. Basic power amplifier design concepts, power limitations in SiGe HBTs, and techniques for increasing the output power of SiGe HBT PAs are reviewed. Chapter 3 presents the design and characterization of a robust medium power X-band SiGe power amplifier for integration into a SiGe transmit/receive module. The PA design process applies the concepts presented in Chapter 2. A detailed investigation into measurement-to-simulation discrepancies is outlined as well. Chapter 4 discusses the development and characterization of a single-chip X-band SiGe T/R module for integration into a very thin, lightweight active phased array antenna panel. The system-on-package antenna combines the high performance and integration potential of SiGe technologies with advanced substrates and packaging techniques to develop a high performance scalable antenna panel using relatively low-cost materials and silicon-based electronics. The antenna panel presented in this chapter will enable airborne SCLP measurements and advance the technology towards an eventual space-based SCLP measurement instrument that will satisfy a critical Earth science need. Finally, Chapter 5 provides concluding remarks and discusses future research directions.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1853/48990
    Collections
    • Georgia Tech Theses and Dissertations [22398]
    • School of Electrical and Computer Engineering Theses and Dissertations [3127]

    Browse

    All of SMARTechCommunities & CollectionsDatesAuthorsTitlesSubjectsTypesThis CollectionDatesAuthorsTitlesSubjectsTypes

    My SMARTech

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage StatisticsView Google Analytics Statistics
    • About
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
    • Emergency Information
    • Legal & Privacy Information
    • Accessibility
    • Accountability
    • Accreditation
    • Employment
    • Login
    Georgia Tech

    © Georgia Institute of Technology

    • About
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
    • Emergency Information
    • Legal & Privacy Information
    • Accessibility
    • Accountability
    • Accreditation
    • Employment
    • Login
    Georgia Tech

    © Georgia Institute of Technology