Tile Modules

Tile modules provide an improvement in transmit/receive (T/R) module size and weight. The smaller volume allow for thinner and more compact phased arrays which is important for most systems. The lower weight can be a significant benefit for applications such as space based and airborne radar. Figure 1 below shows the cross section of a tile module. It is a two substrate tile module with the High Power Amplifiers (HPA) and Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA) substrate separated from the Phase/Gain control substrate by a Ring Frame. The Ring Frame contains electrical signal interconnects that allow the two substrates to communicate with each other and carries the radar signal between them.

Figure 1. Cross section of a phased array tile module.

1. R. Sturdivant, et. al., “Design and Performance of a High Density 3D Microwave Module,” IEEE International Microwave Symposium Digest, 1997, pp. 501-504.