Highly integrated transmit/receive modules are key components for modern active phased array radar systems. This paper describes architecture and related interconnect technologies for a novel transmit/receive module with integrated radiating element and circulator for X-band applications. It allows the realization of future planar or conformal active antenna arrays with low installation depth as well as high maintainability performance.

The important parameters which effect the performance of a connector at high data rates and rf frequencies are: crosstalk, signal propagation delay, capacitance, inductance, signal bandwidth, skin effect and phase shift amongst others. The characteristic impedance that is an important parameter of this type of connector is determined largely from the capacitance value and in some minor ways by the inductance value. This capacitance value, which is very low on a Fuzz Button connection, also affects directly the amount of crosstalk between adjacent pins. Capacitance and inductance also produce the phase shift between voltage and current and play an important role in the signal bandwidth. The higher the capacitance and the lower the value of inductance gives a lower characteristic impedance and vice versa. Characteristic impedance increases as the conductor cross section decreases