Reconfigurable true-time delay for wideband phased-array antennas

A novel reconfigurable true-time delay feed for phased-array antennas working from X to Q (8-50GHz) frequency bands is presented. The reconfigurable optical true-time delay feed, employing monolithic integration of polymer waveguide delay lines and polymeric optical switches, has great advantages in providing power efficient, lightweight, and small size features. Optical switch technique provides large delay selections enabling the module to operate in ultra-broad radar bands. Polymer waveguides with optical propagation loss of less than 0.9dB/cm were achieved at 1550nm. 2X2 thermo-optic switchs as fast as 1ms were fabricated with an excess insertion loss of 0.5 dB in the “switching state” and 1.5dB in the “non-switching state”. Reconfigurability of the true-time delay line was demonstrated through accurate time delay measurement.