Design, Fabrication and Characterization of a Dielectric Resonator Antenna Reflectarray in Ka-Band

Abstract

Abstract-A new reflectarray configuration is proposed for low-loss applications at millimeter waves. It is based on the use of dielectric resonator antennas (DRA) as radiating unit-cells. The phase response of the elementary cell is controlled by adjusting the length of a parasitic narrow metal strip printed on the top of each DRA. A 330 • phase dynamic range is obtained for DRAs made in rigid thermosetting plastic (ε r = 10). As the antenna radiating aperture is non flat, an original low-cost fabrication process is also introduced in order to fabricate the parasitic strips on the DRA surface. A 24 × 24-element array radiating at broadside has been designed at 30 GHz and characterized between 29 and 31 GHz. The antenna gain reaches 28.3 dBi at 31 GHz, and the measured −1 dB-gain radiation bandwidth is 5.2%. The 3.2 dB loss observed between the measured gain and theoretical directivity is mainly due to the spillover loss (2.3 dB). The total dielectric and conductor loss is less than 0.9 dB.

Mutual Coupling Analysis Using FDTD for Dielectric Resonator Antenna Reflectarray Radiation Prediction

“…This technique is well used in designing reflectarray's unit-cell especially to determine the actual parameter of unit-cell in the array. However, it is not good to predict the radiation pattern of the overall reflectarray when mutual coupling effect that comes from identical neighbouring unit-cell doesn't give actual effect in reflectarray antenna [16].…”

“…Such simulation needs a lot of computer memory and it could only be done for a printed reflectarray with a size less than 15.5×10.8 wavelengths at its resonant frequency [15]. For a large size of reflectarray, a simulation based on unit-cell multiplied by array factor can be used to predict the radiation patterns of dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) reflectarrays [16]. Such technique gives a very fast result, however large discrepancy between simulation and measurement is obtained for sidelobe-level (SLL).…”

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Reflectarrays Mounted on or Embedded in Conformal Surfaces

“…The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of designing sector reflectarrays on conformal cylindrical and spherical surfaces. Dielectric resonators antenna (DRA) were used as the cell antenna element in designing the reflectarrays to improve the bandwidth of the reflectarray due to their low loss, high radiation efficiency and low mutual coupling between the elements [13][14][15]. The performance of these reflectarrays are compared with planar designs.…”

Perforated Nanoantenna Reflectarray

“…Reflectarray antennas combine the same features of parabolic reflectors and phased arrays providing a directive beam in a desired scanned angle. The most important advantages of reflectarrays over phased arrays are the elimination of complexity and losses of the feeding network and the higher efficiency [1][2][3][4]. The reflectarray consists of an array of unitcells illuminated by a primary feed.…”