The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Jazz Semiconductor, a developer of analog-intensive mixed-signal process technologies, have collaborated to develop a two-antenna quad-beam RFIC phased array receiver covering the 11-15GHz frequency range.
Jazz Semiconductor said that the chip was developed by using its 0.18-micron SiGe BiCMOS process and its own proprietary models, kit and DIRECT MPW (Multiproject Wafer) programme. The chip was designed and tested by the Electrical and Computer Engineering School at UCSD, and was sponsored by the DARPA RF VLSI programme, Dr. Mark Rosker, Program Monitor.
The partners claim that the new single silicon chip is capable of producing four simultaneous beams from two different antennas. Alternatively, this chip can be connected to a single antenna with two different polarisation ports, thereby allowing the formation of four simultaneous beams of different polarisations.
The partners also said that the SiGe BiCMOS chip operates from a 3.3 V supply and allows multi-beam phased arrays for X to Ku-Band applications. The SBC18HX process offers 0.18-micron SiGe bipolar and passive elements combined with 0.18-micron CMOS, suitable for networking and millimeter wave applications.
