RF MEMS and GaAs Based Reconfigurable RF Front-End Components for Wide-Band Multi-Functional Phased Arrays

Abstract

We study possibilities of implementing flexible and programmable components for the RF front-ends of wideband multi-functional phased arrays using GaAs MMIC and RF MEMS technologies. The use of MEMS reconfigurable matching networks in tunable bandpass LNAs is proposed to achieve wider tuning ranges (e.g. 6.5-9.9 GHz is obtained according to simulations) and adequate performance of such LNAs. We further demonstrate the potential for monolithic integration with active devices by showing how variable MEMS capacitors may be realized in a GaAs foundry process