The chip, called ADAR1000, operates in half-duplex:
The four pairs of Tx and Rx channels have independently programmable gain and phase settings, set via a digital serial interface. Settings can be loaded into built-in memory for fast access to selected Tx or Rx gain and phase states.
According to the firm: “The ADAR1000 is a plug-and-play chip that allows designers with little or no RF experience, without the need for extensive third-party design support, to extend the performance and operating lifetime of their radar systems.” Applications are foreseen in defence, surveillance, air traffic control, communications and weather monitoring, as well as flat-panel antenna arrays for aircraft.
To reduce the RF part of a phased array antenna to a single planar assembly, the chip has been designed to sit flat on the back of an patch antenna array, positioned between four patches on the other side, feeding and receiving from the patches via four combined LNA/PA +T/R switch (low-noise amplifier/power amplifier + transmit/receive switch) chips – such as the firm’s own ADTR1101.
ADAR1000-EVALZ is an evaluation board for the chip.
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