Performance characterization of wideband,wide‐angle scan arrays of cavity‐backed U‐slot microstrip patch antennas

This work looks at the use of wideband cavity‐backed U‐slot microstrip antennas in finite phased arrays. This configuration retains the single‐patch and single‐layer characteristics of conventional microstrip antenna arrays and provides a good impedance matching over wider scan angles when electrically thick substrates are used to improve the frequency bandwidth. The characteristics of finite phased arrays of U‐slot rectangular microstrip patches enclosed in cylindrical cavities are analyzed from a validated hybrid methodology based on the finite element method, the modal analysis, and the properties of spherical waves. The results are compared with those obtained using an infinite array model. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2009.     

一种超宽带相控阵天线单元设计

为了提高相控阵天线的超宽带和宽角扫描性能,提出一种新型全金属Vivaldi天线阵元。利用仿真软件CST对Vivaldi天线阵元建立模型、仿真与优化,最终该天线在2~18 GHz的频段内,其VSWR≤2,具备超宽带特性;针对扫描盲区的问题,提出下宽上窄的创新型侧面结构,优化电流路径,消除扫描盲区,最终可实现全频带范围内±45°的宽角扫描特性。仿真结果表明,该天线具有超宽带、宽角扫描的特性,可以满足作为超宽带宽角扫描相控阵天线单元的要求。     

Design of a subarray with special radiation pattern for low profile wide‐angle scanning phased array

A low profile subarray with a special radiation pattern for the wide‐angle H‐plane scanning phased array is presented. Five parallel dipoles located above a metal ground serve as the radiator. The differential evolution (DE) algorithm is used to obtain the weights for a special radiation pattern, which is realized by a corresponding feed network. The overall dimension of the proposed subarray is only 0.55λ₀ × 0.55λ₀ × 0.14λ₀. The prototype is fabricated and measured, and the measurement results are consistent with the simulation results. Because of the special radiation pattern and compact size, this subarray is suitable as an element in the wide‐angle scanning phased array. A uniform linear array consisting of five proposed subarrays is built in high frequency structural simulator, and the simulated results show that the main beam can scan nearly from ?70° to +70° in the H‐plane with a gain fluctuation less than 3 dB.     

A meta-surface loaded,low profile 28 GHz phased array antenna

A low-profile wide-scan phased array for 28 GHz 5G band operation, based on the current sheet array (CSA) concept, is presented in this work. The array is dual-polarized with horizontally and vertically polarized dipoles are placed in close proximity to leverage intentional capacitive coupling. A meta-surface based on fully split rings is printed on the top of the matching layer, contributing to wide-scan performance. A capacitive metallic plate is placed below the cross-section formed between orthogonal dipole elements to subdue the in-band coupled-loop modes. The design is demonstrated to operate at 26–30 GHz with voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) <3 for ±60° scanning in principal planes, with a low-profile 0.26λ_h. The simulations are validated by measuring an 8 × 8 array prototype, which shows good agreement with the simulated predictions.     

数字化相控阵天线远场测试系统设计

数字化相控阵天线广泛运用于各种相控阵雷达当中,针对数字化相控阵天线测试过程数据量大、耗时长、自动化程度不足的现状,提出了一种数字化相控阵天线远场测试系统设计方案,并进行了测试系统开发验证.系统采用六轴工业机器人、三轴扫描架、冷水机、矢量网络分析仪、功率放大器、电源等设备模块集成并布置于暗室中,测试软件系统采用模块化设计方法,利用多线程技术实现测试设备模块并行调用,实现多频点、多波位、多通道同步测试以及测试过程时序的优化.系统具备良好的维护性和拓展性,集成多样化的测试参数配置和显示界面接口,实际应用表明数字化相控阵天线测试系统能满足相控阵天线方向图测试的各项指标要求,和传统方案相比操作简单、自动化程度高,能较大程度地提高测试效率.     

The low-cost polarization reconfigurable phased array based on high-precision full 360° phase shifter

In this article, to adapt the various polarization of user terminal, a 1 × 4 C-band high-integrated polarization reconfiguration phased array based on phase shifter matrix is presented. The phased array combined with polarization reconfiguration antenna elements exhibits the desired beamforming patterns and achieves beam polarization reconfiguration simultaneously. Based on the technique of the shunted microstrip open-stub and equalizing resistor, a high-precision reflection-type phase shifter with full 360° continuous phase tuning range is designed for this phased array in this article. The prototype of the polarization reconfiguration phased array is designed and fabricated. Measured results show that proposed phased array works at 5.8 GHz and achieves 21.4% (1.2 GHz) impedance bandwidth and 14.3% (800 MHz) 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth. The beam coverage range at 5.8 GHz is more than 64° with 0.2° beam steering resolution.     

Wideband microstrip‐fed tapered slot antennas and phased array

Two wideband tapered slot antennas are designed, fabricated, and tested. The first antenna, which is fabricated on a high dielectric constant substrate (?_r = 10.2), shows a measured return loss of better than 10 dB from 1.6 to 12.4 GHz (7.7:1 bandwidth), and an antenna gain varying from 3.6 to 7.8 dBi. The second antenna is built on a low dielectric constant substrate (?_r = 2.2), and demonstrates return loss of better than 10 dB from 1.8 to 15.2 GHz (8.4:1 bandwidth). The second antenna also has improved antenna gain, from 5 to 15.6 dBi, and is used to build a wideband 1 × 4 H‐plane phased array with a total gain of 9–17 dBi and a beam steering angle of ±15° from 3 to 12 GHz. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2007.     

数字化相控阵天线测试方法及测试系统设计

伴随着雷达技术的飞速发展,数字化相控阵天线开始广泛运用于各种相控阵雷达当中;由于数字化相控阵天线的工作原理与传统模拟相控阵天线差异极大,测试方法也发生了根本性的改变,原有的基于普通微波仪表的天线测试系统无法再对数字化相控阵天线进行测试,必须设计新型的数字化相控阵天线测试系统;文章首先介绍了数字化相控阵天线自身的工作原理和测试方法,随后提出了新型数字化相控阵天线测试系统的具体软硬件设计方案,实际应用表明数字化相控阵天线测试系统可以满足各种数字化相控阵天线的测试要求。     

A compact and wideband array antenna with efficient hybrid feed network

This study presents a high‐efficient, compact, and broadband microstrip patch antennas (MPAs) based on substrate‐integrated waveguide (SIW) for X‐band applications. The proposed array consists of three stacked layers from top to bottom, including one layer as the antenna layer and two SIW layers as a feeding network. The performance was focused on improving the impedance bandwidth and radiation efficiency by mitigating the loss from the feed network while also maintaining the compact design. To this end, the SIW feeding network was designed to feed the MPA to save the physical aperture size which resulted in a more compact and efficient radiating structure. The overall size of the proposed array is compact and extra surface area around the radiation aperture has not been occupied. The measured ?10 dB impedance bandwidth span is from 8.9 to 10.9 GHz (20.2%). The maximum measured gain at 10.6 GHz is 10.6 dBi. The results show that the simulated radiation efficiency and the measured aperture efficiency are more than 75% and 50%, respectively. The fabricated array exhibits great advantages such as wide operating bandwidth, lightweight, low‐cost, high aperture efficiency, high radiation efficiency, and compactness which make it a good candidate for X‐band applications.     

A dual‐feed MIMO antenna pair with one shared radiator and two isolated ports for fifth generation mobile communication band

In this article, a pair of unsymmetrical dual‐feed antennas with one shared radiator and two isolated ports is proposed for multiple‐input‐multiple‐output (MIMO) systems. The proposed antenna pair achieves high isolation between the two ports by properly adjusting the distance between the two feeding ports and the position and length of shorting strips on the radiator. The antenna has simple structure and covers the 3.3‐3.7 GHz band, which could meet the demand of future 5G applications. The measured results show that antenna has good impedance matching (better than 10 dB return loss) and high port isolation (better than 20 dB isolation) from 3.35 to 3.65 GHz. The total efficiencies are above 55% and the envelope correlation coefficient is <0.1, which is sufficient for MIMO applications.     

Array of waveguide‐fed microstrip antennas

A low‐cost Ku‐band array of microstrip antennas, which is fed by standard waveguide, is presented in this article. The 72 corner‐fed square patches of the array are arranged in a 6‐by‐12 configuration. A novel waveguide‐to‐microstrip transition with power divider is employed as the fed for the array to reduce the loss of the microstrip feed line. The resonant frequency of the array is 12.5 GHz and the gain was measured to be 24.3 dBi. The measurement results show good agreements with full‐wave simulation. This array of waveguide‐fed microstrip antennas can be used in many modern communication systems, such as a mobile radar sensor, in which the transition can be fixed as a connection between the module with a front‐end waveguide and the antennas. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2011.     

一种高增益宽频带圆极化微带阵列天线的研制

针对微带天线阻抗匹配带宽一般较窄的自身缺陷,基于相控阵雷达天线的应用背景,设计了一种工作在X波段的双层圆极化微带天线结构,且优化发现,其各电磁参数良好。为提高其增益,还在此基础上设计并最终制作了双层2×2结构的微带天线阵列,其实测性能与设计值相符,增益达到10.7dB,带宽1.2GHz,相应轴比为4dB,符合圆极化要求。     

An extended particle swarm optimization algorithm for pattern synthesis of conformal phased arrays

In this article, an extended particle swarm optimization (EPSO) algorithm is proposed for designing conformal phased arrays. On the basis of traditional particle swarm optimization (PSO), novel velocity updating mechanism, new exceeding boundary control operator, and global best perturbation are introduced in EPSO to overcome the drawbacks of PSO. To validate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm, both the classical test functions and the scenarios concerning a 1 × 9‐element cylindrical conformal phased array and a 3 × 9(27)‐element cylindrical conformal array with flat‐top shaped‐beam pattern are presented. Simulation results show that the proposed method is superior to genetic algorithm (GA) and PSO when applied to both the classical test functions and the practical problems of conformal antenna array synthesis. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2010.     

Decoupling antenna array with X‐shaped strip

Manipulating mutual coupling between antenna array elements is always a critical essential in designing phased arrays. In this article, an X‐shaped strip is applied to decouple a five‐element E‐plane microstrip antenna array, whose adjacent elements' center‐to‐center spacing is only 0.45 λ₀. Simulation and measurement results reveal that the proposed array employing the loaded structure exhibits excellent decoupling capability, as in comparison to the reference array, impedance of every port is well matched, mutual coupling between both adjacent elements and nonadjacent ones is efficiently reduced and radiation patterns of every individual patch are markedly corrected. Besides, when beam scanning is performed, the proposed array is equipped with higher gain and lower SLL. The X‐shaped strip predicts a promising application in phased array and a large‐scale array.     

A coplanar‐waveguide‐fed planar integrated cavity backed slotted antenna array using TE33 mode

This short communication presents a substrate integrated waveguide planar cavity slotted antenna array. The proposed antenna array, excited in its TE₃₃ higher mode, incorporates a grounded coplanar‐waveguide (CPW) CPW‐feeding excitation mechanism. The electromagnetic energy is coupled to the air through 3 × 3 slot array etched on top metallic layer. The proposed antenna operates in the X‐band for the frequency range around the 10 to 11 GHz with resonances at 10.4 and 10.8 GHz frequencies. The proposed antenna array was fabricated and tested. Experimental results show good impedance matching with enhanced radiation characteristics, in terms of peak gain, cross‐polarization level, and low back‐radiation. The proposed antenna has the advantages of low‐footprints, lightweight, high gain, low‐cost, and ease of integration with other electronic circuits. With these characteristics, the proposed antenna array can find its applications in compact wireless digital transceivers.     

Circularly polarized 1 × 4 square slot array antenna by utilizing compacted modified butler matrix and branch line coupler

Circularly polarized (CP), beam steering antennas are preferred to reduce the disruptive effects such as multi‐path fading and co‐channel interference in wireless communications systems. Nowadays, intensive studies have been carried out not only on the specific antenna array design but also their feeding networks to achieve circular polarization and beam steering characteristics. A compact broadband CP antenna array with a low loss feed network design is aimed in this work. To improve impedance and CP bandwidth, a feed network with modified Butler matrix and a compact ultra‐wideband square slot antenna element are designed. With this novel design, more than 3 GHz axial ratio BW is achieved. In this study, a broadband meander line compact double box coupler with impedance bandwidth over 4.8‐7 GHz frequency and the phase error less than 3° is used. Also the measured impedance bandwidth of the proposed beam steering array antenna is 60% (from 4.2 to 7.8 GHz). The minimum 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth between ports, support 4.6–6.8 GHz frequency range. The measured peak gain of the proposed array antenna is 8.9 dBic that could scan solid angle about ～91 degree. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 26:146–153, 2016.     

有源相控阵天线测试通用平台设计与实现

有源相控阵天线在完成装配之后要进行功能和性能测试,整个过程繁琐、复杂,并且不同架构的天线有不同的测试方法,现阶段天线测试系统多属于定制化研制。针对不同架构天线,提出通用化、标准化的测试硬件和构件化、模块化的软件平台,并基于某型雷达天线做了应用验证。结果表明天线测试通用平台相比于传统测试平台,测试精度基本一致,系统集成速度提升69%,软件复用率提升50%,开发人员能够快速、准确集成天线测试系统,使用人员能够使用标准天线测试流程提升测试效率,对有源相控雷达的研制具有重要意义。     

Efficient design of compact millimeter wave microstrip linear array with bandwidth enhancement and sidelobe reduction

In this article, a novel linear mmWave antenna array with series‐feed network is proposed to enhance the bandwidth and reduce sidelobe level without increasing the patch size. The proposed linear array is consisted of four identical wideband array elements, which are all under operation TM₁₀ and TM₀₂ modes by loading shorting pin and rectangular slots. Additionally, through loading symmetry circle‐shaped slots for the four elements, impedance matching of linear array is achieved. Furthermore, multi‐parameters unified‐optimization (MPUO) based on imperial competition algorithm (ICA) is proposed to uniformly optimize all linear array parameters. To verify this design, the proposed linear array is fabricated with a small patch area of 7.5 × 3.914 × 0.254 mm³. The measured results show that the bandwidth is enhanced to 2.05GHz, which is 0.57GHz wider than that of simulation. The simulated peak gain reaches 13dBi while the sidelobe level is reduced to about ?19 dB at 28.6GHz. Moreover, the computation cost using MPUO is reduced by 98.12% compared with that of independent parameters optimization.     

Fork‐shaped patch printed ultra‐wideband slot antenna with dual band‐notched characteristics using metamaterial unit cells

In this article, a miniaturized fork‐shaped patch ultra‐wideband (UWB) planar wide‐slot antenna with dual band‐notched characteristics is proposed. With fork‐shaped patch, ultra‐wideband impedance matching from 3.1 to 13.2 GHz is easily achieved. Then, two novel and simple methods are applied to solve the difficulty for UWB slot antennas with fork‐shaped patch to realize band‐notched characteristics. By etching one pair of I‐shaped resonators on both branches of the fork‐shaped structure and adding a rectangular single split‐ring resonator in the rectangular openings of fork‐shaped patch, the wireless local area network (WLAN) band from 5.5 to 6.1 GHz and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 8 GHz band from 7.9 to 8.7 GHz are rejected, respectively. The coplanar waveguide‐fed UWB antenna is successfully designed, fabricated, and measured. The measured and simulated results show a good agreement. The antenna provides nearly stable radiation patterns, high gains and high radiation efficiency.