Tilted- and axial-beam formation by a single-arm rectangular spiralantenna with compact dielectric substrate and conducting plane

A single-arm rectangular spiral antenna is analyzed using the finite-difference time-domain method. The spiral is printed on a finite-size dielectric substrate backed by a finite-size conducting plane. Both the substrate and conducting planes are square with a side length L of less than 0.6λ₀ (λ₀: wavelength in free space). The radiation pattern is dependent on the outermost arm peripheral length C. The spiral whose peripheral length is within 2λ_gg (λ_g: the guided wavelength of the current) radiates a tilted beam of circular polarization. When the peripheral length is decreased to λ_gg, the spiral radiates an axial beam. The axial beam has a wide half-power beam width of approximately 102° (for L≈0.369λ₀) with a gain of approximately 6.7 dB. The axial beam shows a 15% frequency bandwidth for a 3 dB axial ratio criterion. Over this bandwidth, the voltage standing-wave ratio (VSWR) is less than two, as desired. The experimental results for the radiation pattern, gain, axial ratio, and VSWR are also presented     

A curved spiral antenna above a conducting cylinder

A curved spiral antenna above a finite hollow conducting cylinder is analyzed using the method of moments. The effects of cylinder length 2H and cylinder radius r_cy on the radiation characteristics of the spiral are evaluated. As 2H increases, the cross-polarization component of the radiation field in the broadside direction decreases to a constant value (approximately -18 dB). When 2H is greater than one wavelength (λ₀), the input impedance of the spiral above a cylinder of radius r_cy=0.25 λ₀ is almost constant (250-j20 Ω) with a gain of approximately 7 dB. The spiral above a cylinder of (2H, r_cy)=(2.7 λ₀, 0.25 λ₀) shows a 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth of approximately 23%, which is wider than a flat spiral antenna above a flat ground plane of infinite extent     

一种应用于卫星通信地面站的新型单臂螺旋天线及其阵列的研究

研究了一种应用于卫星通信地面站的新型单臂平面螺旋天线,该天线采用圆柱螺旋激励同轴线馈电,可以形成倾斜的波束,通过改变圆柱螺旋的参数可以调整其输入阻抗以达到阻抗匹配的目的.用矩量法求解了天线的电流分布和三维辐射方向图以及增益轴比等参数,计算结果与参考文献很吻合.为了增强天线的方向性系数和增益,以四元天线阵为例,研究了这种天线组成的天线阵的辐射特性,给出了天线阵的三维辐射方向图.计算结果表明,该天线组成的天线阵同样具有倾斜的波束指向,各天线单元的输入阻抗为接近50 Ω的纯电阻,增益比单个天线单元提高6.3 dB.     

Single feed proximity coupled circularly polarized microstripmonofilar Archimedean spiral antenna array

The analysis is presented for a microstrip feed proximity coupled monofilar Archimedean spiral four-element antenna array. Interactions between the microstrip corporate feed and the radiating elements are rigorously included. Results demonstrate that circular polarization can be achieved with proper spiral arm length. Polarization of either sense is controlled by the location of the feedline. The 3-dB axial ratio (AR) and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) bandwidths are 9%. The antenna is small (2R/λ₀=0.33) and the interelement spacing is 0.51λ₀. The microstrip feed produces a completely planar antenna system, which is compatible with microwave integrated circuits (MIC) and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC)     

Low-loss compact Butler matrix for a microstrip antenna

This paper presents the design and realization of a double four-port Butler matrix to feed a four-column array antenna with two orthogonally polarized signals (to obtain polarization diversity). The main goals of this study are the reduction of the size and the losses of the network. In order to meet those requirements, a bi-layer structure, the suspended stripline, has been adopted to support the circuit. Moreover, the complete network has been integrated in a single unit. The double four-port Butler matrix has been etched on both sides of the suspended substrate to solve the problem of the cross between the lines. The broadside suspended 3-dB directional coupler has been chosen for the design of the 3-dB hybrid coupler. In order to change the side of the suspended substrate, contactless transitions have been used. The network is designed to work within the range of frequencies of the GSM-900-MHz standard: band 880 MHz-960 MHz, center frequency f₀=920 MHz. Measured losses for a 4×4 Butler matrix are 0.3 dB     

Analysis and measurements for improved crank-line antennas

This paper describes the radiation characteristics of crank-line antennas radiating a circularly polarized wave. First, the radiation efficiency versus substrate permittivity is evaluated. Second, a 12-cell crank-line antenna of substrate permittivity ε_r=1 and antenna height B=λ_11.85 is investigated as a reference antenna, where λ_11.85 is the wavelength at a frequency of 11.85 GHz. It is found that the main beam direction of the reference antenna varies 7° over a frequency range of approximately 6%, with an axial ratio of less than 3 dB and a gain of approximately 21 dB. Third, attention is paid to the gain behavior versus the antenna height. A way to increase the gain by modifying the antenna height is proposed. An increase of 1.5 dB from the gain of the reference antenna is demonstrated. Finally, the axial ratio, gain, and decoupling factor for crank-line antenna arrays are presented and discussed     

Accordion shape monofilar axial mode helix for RFID reader

An accordion shape monofilar axial mode helical antenna designed by curving the helix along the axis is proposed. This antenna achieves a low-profile characteristic as the 10-turn helix's axial length is 0.354/spl lambda/. The impedance bandwidth (SWR<1.5) is 9% from the frequency of 880 to 963 MHz and the axial ratio bandwidth (AR<3 dB) is 6.5%. The measured gain is 10.2 dBi. This antenna operated at the centre frequency of 915 MHz and has a tilted radiation of 17/spl deg/ to the curving side.     

A low-profile conical beam loop antenna with an electromagneticallycoupled feed system

The radiation characteristics of a low-profile loop antenna are evaluated using the method of moments (MoM). The loop having a circumference of approximately two wavelengths is electromagnetically coupled to a bent Feed line and radiates a circularly polarized conical beam. The frequency bandwidth for a 3-dB axial ratio criterion is calculated to be approximately 0.5% for an antenna height of h=0.064 wavelengths. Over the same bandwidth, the input impedance is approximately 50 ohms and the gain is approximately 7 dB     

A variable-coverage satellite antenna system

A multibeam antenna system and-combiner switch capable of producing a variable-coverage radiation pattern are described. The antenna consists of a waveguide lens illuminated by a 19-element feedhorn array. The combiner switch consists of a corporate arrangement of variable power dividers; the latter is made up of two phase shifters and two conventional hybrid power-dividers. An earth-coverage radiation pattern with less than 2-dB ripple and an antenna gain ≈ 20 dB is obtained by equally exciting all beams of the muItibeam antenna simultaneously. Excitation of a single feedhorn results in a narrow beam with an antenna gain ≈ 30 dB and a near-in sidelobe level less -20 dB. The side|obe level can be reduced appreciably by appropriately exciting the adjacent feedhorns. The frequency bandwidth corresponding to 0.5-dB decrease in antenna gain is 10 percent. A technique for computing the radiation properties of the antenna is described; the agreement with measured data is shown to be excellent.     

A 24-GHz Patch Array with a Power Amplifier/Low-Noise Amplifier MMIC

This paper presents an active patch array designed at 24 GHz. It can be used as a front-end component for a phased array. A series resonant array structure is chosen which is compact and easy excite. With 5 elements, the array proved a 12-dB antenna gain. A power amplifier and a low noise amplifier are designed on a single GaAs chip (PALNA). Bias switch is used in the PALNA, which greatly reduces the switch loss in a transceiver and increases the efficiency. 20-dB small signal gain is achieved in both power amplifier and low noise amplifier. The active patch array is built by the combination of the patch array and PALNA. The measured active gain of this antenna is 35-dB for the PA mode and 31-dB for the LNA mode. This active patch array can obtain an EIRP of 34 dBm with a total radiated power of 22dBm and a maximum PAE of 32%. To check the noise performance, we applied sources at both normal temperature and 77K (liquid nitrogen) and extracted the noise figure (3.5 dB) of the active antenna by the Y factor method. The results proved that the active antenna is working efficiently as both a transmitting and receiving antenna.     

A cavity-backed rectangular aperture antenna with application to a tilted fan beam array antenna

A rectangular aperture of A/sub x//spl times/A/sub y/, cut in the top conducting plate of a triplate transmission line and backed by a cavity, radiates a tilted beam off the direction normal to the aperture. The mechanism of the radiation is explained using the Poynting vector distribution above the aperture and the phase distribution of the electric field over the aperture. The tilt angle is calculated as a function of side length A/sub x/ for a representative value of A/sub y/=18 mm=0.747/spl lambda//sub 12.45/, where /spl lambda//sub 12.45/ is the wavelength at a test frequency of 12.45 GHz. A tilted beam of approximately 27/spl deg/ is realized at A/sub x//A/sub y/=8/9 with a gain of approximately 8 dB. Using this value of A/sub x//A/sub y/, an array antenna composed of rectangular cavity-backed aperture elements is investigated. The array forms a tilted fan beam without phase shifters. The frequency responses of the gain and input impedance are discussed.     

A microstrip array feed for land mobile satellite reflectorantennas

A circularly polarized feed array for a spacecraft reflector antenna is described that was constructed by using linearly polarized microstrip elements. The array has seven subarrays which form a single cluster as part of a large overlapping cluster reflector feed array. Each of the seven subarrays consists of four linearly polarized microstrip elements. The array achieved a better than 0.8-dB axial ratio at the array pattern peak and better then 3 dB antenna gain to 20° from the peak, across a 7.5% frequency bandwidth. A teardrop-shaped feed probe was used to achieve wideband input impedance matching for the relatively thick microstrip substrate. The low impedance and axial ratio bandwidths were achieved using a relatively thick honeycomb substrate with the impedance-matching feed probes     

A curl antenna

A radiation element, designated as a curl antenna, is proposed for a circularly polarized antenna. The radiation characteristics of the curl are numerically analyzed. The gain is approximately 8.4 dB, and the 3-dB axial ratio criterion is 6.7%. Two aspects of curl array antennas are also presented: a decoupling factor between two curls and a circular array antenna consisting of 168 curls. Calculations show how the decoupling factor depends on the relative rotation angle of the two curls. The 168-curl array antenna shows a high aperture efficiency of 95%     

A dual polarized aperture coupled circular patch antenna using a C-shaped coupling slot

The design and development of a dual linearly polarized aperture coupled circular microstrip patch antenna at C-band are presented. The antenna uses a novel configuration of symmetric and asymmetric coupling slots. Variations in isolation between orthogonal feedlines and antenna axial ratio with the position of coupling slots are studied and broadband isolation and axial ratio are achieved. The prototype antenna yields 7.6 dBi peak gain, 70/spl deg/ 3-dB beam width, 25 dB cross-polarization levels and an isolation better than 28 dB between the two ports. With an external quadrature hybrid coupler connected to the two orthogonal feedlines, the antenna yields 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth of more than 30% at 5.8 GHz.     

一种基于5G应用的圆极化微带相控阵天线

本文提出一款应用于5G频段,可实现方位面±40°波束扫描的圆极化微带相控阵天线。该相控阵天线单元是由矩形贴片、上下介质板、缝隙耦合馈电结构、金属反射板构成。利用切比雪夫综合法的一分八不等分功分器实现相控阵天线的馈电形式。测试结果表明,阵列天线的驻波比带宽为3.25 GHz～3.69 GHz,端口隔离度大于25 dB,扫描过程中增益最大为21 dB,增益衰落小于3 dB,最大扫描角处轴比为2.89 dB。该天线具有低剖面、高隔离度、高增益以及良好的波束扫描性能等优点。     

Circularly polarized 20-GHz high-temperature superconductingmicrostrip antenna array

A four-element array of circularly polarized 20-GHz YBa₂Cu₃O_x microstrip antennas has been fabricated on LaAlO₃ and characterized. The array produced good circular polarization, and the gain of the array at 77 K, relative to a copper array of the same design at 77 K, was approximately 0.75 and 1.3 dB for the two gain measurement methods presented. The relative gain increased to approximately 2.2 dB at 30 K. The results demonstrate that high-temperature superconductors, when used in microstrip antenna arrays, improve the efficiency of the array, and that circularly polarized microstrip arrays can be fabricated on LaAlO₃     

Transverse slot antenna array in the broad wall of a rectangular waveguide partially filled with a dielectric slab

A compact and wide-band transverse slot antenna array in the broad wall of a rectangular waveguide partially filled with an H-plane -dielectric slab is presented in this paper. By partially filling an H-plane dielectric slab in the waveguide, the inter-element spacing between slots is reduced to be about 0.8 free-space wavelengths to avoid grating lobes. In addition, the partially filled material provides extra flexibility to adjust the slot impedance as desired within a relatively wide frequency range. A new feeding network is designed for this antenna array, which can prevent the shift in the pointing angle of the array's main radiation beam with the change of frequency. Experimental data for a 2/spl times/4 antenna array operating at X-band show that stable radiation pattern over a wide frequency range can be obtained. The measured gain is 16.9 dB at 10 GHz and the fluctuation is less than 2 dB over a frequency band of 1.5 GHz. The slot array's 10-dB return loss bandwidth is 13% and the cross-polarization level is better than -25 dB.     

Single-feed circularly polarized microstrip ring antenna and arrays

An analysis is presented for a microstrip-feed proximity-coupled ring antenna and a four-element array. Interactions between the embedded microstrip feed and the radiating element(s) are rigorously included. Results demonstrate that circular polarization of both senses can be achieved with a ring antenna with proper design of two inner stubs located at angles of ±45° with respect to the feedline. Theory and experiment demonstrate an axial ratio 3-dB bandwidth of 1% and the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) <2 bandwidth of 6.1%. The axial ratio bandwidth is typical for a microstrip antenna with perturbations, while the VSWR bandwidth is larger than for the circular or rectangular patch with perturbations. A mutual coupling study between two elements shows that the axial ratio is less than 2 dB for interelement spacing greater than 0.55λ_eff, while the VSWR <2 for all spacings considered. A comparison between theory and experiment is provided for a 2×2 element array. The benefits of sequentially rotating the antenna elements in an array environment are presented. The axial ratio and VSWR bandwidths are both increased to 6.1% and 18% for a four-element array. A single-element antenna with two orthogonal feeds to provide both senses of polarization is demonstrated. The ring antenna is small (D/λ₀=0.325), the substrate thickness is thin (H/λ₀~0.035), and the microstrip feed produces a completely planar antenna system, which is compatible with microwave and millimeter integrated circuits (MICs), and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs)     

Compact Electronically Switchable Parallel-Coupled Microstrip Bandpass Filter With Wide Stopband

In this letter, a compact electronically switchable parallel-coupled microstrip bandpass filter (BPF) based on quarter- wavelength resonators and p-i-n diode switch is proposed. The proposed filter occupies only half the circuit size of the conventional parallel-coupled filter. In addition, the type and length of each coupled-line section is suitably chosen such that the inherent transmission zeros associated with the coupled-lines can be used to reject the spurious passbands effectively. By adding only one p-i-n diode along with a simple bias control circuitry, the proposed filter becomes electronically switchable with no current consumption when the filter is turned off. Specifically, a switchable fourth-order microstrip BPF with a center frequency f₀ of 2 GHz, passband insertion loss less than 3 dB, and wide stopband up to 7.7 f₀ in the ON state is demonstrated. The isolation of the filter is better than 30 dB from dc up to 7.7 f₀ in the OFF state.     

Axial mode helical antennas

The radiation characteristics of helical antennas operating in the axial mode are evaluated on the basis of the theoretical current distributions and are verified by experimental work. A comparison between monofilar helix and bifilar helix antennas is made, and a helical antenna with a parasitic helix (HAP) is proposed in order to enhance the power gain. It is found that the gain of the HAP in which the parasitic helix is wound from a point diametrically opposite to that of one and one-half turns of the driven helix is about 1 dB higher than that of the monofilar helix. The ratio of the frequency band in which the HAP radiates a circularly polarized wave within an axial ratio of 3 dB is calculated to be 1:1.8.