RF MEMS-Based True Time Delay Units for Wideband Phased Arrays: Theoretical Advancements, Design Innovations and Beamforming Optimisation

Thomas, David W. K.

RF MEMS-Based True Time Delay Units for Wideband Phased Arrays: Theoretical Advancements, Design Innovations and Beamforming Optimisation

Thomas, David W. K.

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2025

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Thomas, David W. K.
dc.date.accessioned	2026-05-27T00:20:48Z
dc.date.available	2026-05-27T00:20:48Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195150
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	The growing demand for high-speed, wideband and adaptive communication systems has driven advancements in phased array antenna technology. Traditional phase-shifter arrays suffer from beam squint and signal dispersion across wide bandwidths, motivating the development of timed arrays that employ true-time delay (TTD) units to ensure stable beam pointing. This thesis investigates the theoretical foundations and practical implementation of TTD in phased arrays, with several novel contributions. A switched-line time delay unit (TDU) architecture using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches is proposed, achieving superior delay-to-loss performance. A prototype printed circuit board covering 0.4–6 GHz was designed and fabricated, with experimental validation demonstrating a figure of merit exceeding existing designs. Beyond TDU design, the thesis introduces an innovative beamforming network methodology that optimises space efficiency and reduces grating lobes, improving array accuracy. It also develops an analytical framework to quantify truncation and quantisation errors in TDUs, often overlooked in prior studies, and proposes a probabilistic approach to TDU sizing for stochastic beamforming. Overall, this research advances TDU technology, beamforming networks and array optimisation, enabling next-generation phased arrays for 6G communications, advanced radar and satellite systems.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/195150/1/thesis.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2025 David Thomas
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/cph
dc.title	RF MEMS-Based True Time Delay Units for Wideband Phased Arrays: Theoretical Advancements, Design Innovations and Beamforming Optimisation	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

The growing demand for high-speed, wideband and adaptive communication systems has driven advancements in phased array antenna technology. Traditional phase-shifter arrays suffer from beam squint and signal dispersion across wide bandwidths, motivating the development of timed arrays that employ true-time delay (TTD) units to ensure stable beam pointing. This thesis investigates the theoretical foundations and practical implementation of TTD in phased arrays, with several novel contributions. A switched-line time delay unit (TDU) architecture using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches is proposed, achieving superior delay-to-loss performance. A prototype printed circuit board covering 0.4–6 GHz was designed and fabricated, with experimental validation demonstrating a figure of merit exceeding existing designs. Beyond TDU design, the thesis introduces an innovative beamforming network methodology that optimises space efficiency and reduces grating lobes, improving array accuracy. It also develops an analytical framework to quantify truncation and quantisation errors in TDUs, often overlooked in prior studies, and proposes a probabilistic approach to TDU sizing for stochastic beamforming. Overall, this research advances TDU technology, beamforming networks and array optimisation, enabling next-generation phased arrays for 6G communications, advanced radar and satellite systems.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195150