An Advanced Transmit/Receive 3D Ceramic Hybrid Circuit Module for Space Applications

Active Electronically Steerable Antenna (AESA) systems for space applications demand continuous performance improvement in terms of increased bandwidth, wider electronic scanning in azimuth, mass reduction, multi-polarization capability and higher transmitted power. At electronic front-end sub-system level, such goals can be achieved by increasing the density of the radiating patch elements of the antenna through a shrinking of such planar elements, which in turn leads to a reduction of transmit/receive (T/R) hybrid modules footprint. As a consequence, the use of suitable technology to take advantage of the modules third dimension (z-Axis) connectivity becomes mandatory: Active components have to be assembled also on the package lid, and means to implement reliable interconnections along the z-Axis have to be devised.