ADI releases chip that reduces SWaP footprint in military applications
NewsMay 16, 2018
NORWOOD, Mass. Officials at Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) released an integrated, active antenna beamforming chip that allows designers to replace bulky, mechanically steered antenna platforms with a compact, solid-state solution for phased array radar and communications systems.
The ADAR1000 chip reduces the size, weight and power (SWaP) of phased array radar systems for defense, surveillance, air traffic control, communications and weather monitoring. For avionics designers, the ADAR1000 enables flat-panel antenna arrays, which shrinks the profile of radar systems and facilitates the design of smaller, lighter aircraft. The new ADAR1000 is a plug-and-play chip that allows designers with little or no RF experience to extend the performance and operating lifetime of their radar systems.
The 4-channel ADAR1000 active antenna beamforming chip replaces 12 discrete components needed for antenna phase-gain adjustments and digital controls. The IC supports time division duplexing (TDD) across the X and Ku bands. It includes an integrated T/R switch that can be used to select the common port as an input for transmit (Tx) or an output for receive (Rx). The four pairs of Tx and Rx channels have independently programmable gain and phase settings.
The ADAR1000 can be configured to directly control all aspects of external T/R module pulsing with minimal extra circuitry. All settings can be loaded into built-in memory for fast access to gain-phase states and T/R module settings. The ADAR1000 offers a scalable building block for fast implementation of active antenna phased arrays targeting next-generation radar and communications systems without the need for extensive third-party design support.
To learn more on the ADAR1000 product, visit: http://www.analog.com/adar1000
