Ferroelectric phase shifters for phased array radar applications

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Abstract
The traditional rotating reflector antenna associated with airport traffic control systems is being replaced in some applications by a new design concept called the phased array. Generally planar in shape, it is made up of thousands of closely spaced, individual radiators whose composite beam can be shaped and spacially directed in microseconds, enabling it to track a multitude of targets at one time. This is accomplished electronically by RF phase shifters associated with each individual radiating element. No moving parts are required. State of the art, passive phased array antennas are limited in their application by cost, more than any other factor. Even utilizing the latest technology and fabricating techniques, the required phase shifters are not cheap, and with a typical array requiring thousands of individual antenna elements, each with its own phase shifter, the price of the total system quickly becomes prohibitive.

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