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Metamaterial-based MEM ultra-low-loss non-dispersive phased-array antenna

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8650-12-M-1388
Agency Tracking Number: F11B-T28-0272
Amount: $97,892.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF11-BT28
Solicitation Number: 2011.B
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2011
Award Year: 2012
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2012-04-26
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
46055 Bloomcrest Dr.
Northville, MI 48167-
United States
DUNS: 361642866
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Andrew Brown
 President, A. Brown Design
 (734) 674-7869
 andrew.r.brown@abrowndesign.com
Business Contact
 Andrew Brown
Title: President, A. Brown Design
Phone: (734) 674-7869
Email: andrew.r.brown@abrowndesign.com
Research Institution
 Michigan State University
 Prem Chahal
 
2120 Engineering Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-8824
United States

 (517) 355-0248
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

ABSTRACT: Under this collaborative effort between A Brown Design, Michigan State University, and Raytheon, a novel phase shifter design is proposed. The phase shifter design builds upon existing RF MEMS capacitive technology by co-integrating MEMS switches with metamaterial unit cells. The metamterial unit cell design is versatile and allows significant degree of freedom in integration and design. It is compatible with existing MEMS fabrication technology that utilizes Microstrip design with solid ground plane. Preliminary Ka-band phase shifter designs show that all of the design goals set under this proposal can be met. This proposal carries out the development of phase shifter by comprehensively analyzing it from design, performance, manufacturability, and utilization. The joint team together brings more than 24years of industry and research experience in the areas of RFMEMS, microwave and millimeter wave designs. A large industry partner (Raytheon) has been identified who will be instrumental in the production and commercialization of the technology. The team brings a unique ability of metamaterial design, phase shifter design, and RF MEMS technology. BENEFIT: Low-loss, non-dispersive phase shifters have the potential to revolutionize the phased array market by reducing cost per element through die area reductions and reduced part count through the use of non-dispersive, broadband elements. Further, the low loss characteristics can greatly reduce the SWAP per subarray by reducing the number of PA's/LNA by moving these elements before the main power distribution.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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