Authors
Sofia Mvokany, Laila Fighera Marzall, Zoya Popovic
Abstract
A simultaneous transmit-receive (STAR) operation of a 4-element phased array with integrated MMIC active circulators is analyzed through harmonic balance simulations using an equivalent circuit model for the over-the-air link. Array selfinterference levels and effects of active circulator saturation are calculated for an example narrowband array at 9.5 GHz. Active circulators are designed using 6×75 um devices in both the WIN semiconductor PIH1-10 GaAs process and the WIN NP15 GaN on SiC process in an effort to compare their performance in terms of power handling, linearity and susceptibility to self-interference. The GaN circulator shows better power handling and linearity compared to the GaAs circulator.