Dual Polarized Array Antenna for S/X Band Active Phased Array Radar Application

Abstract

A dual-band dual-polarized microstrip antenna array for an advanced multi-function radio function concept (AMRFC) radar application operating at S and X-bands is proposed. Two stacked planar arrays with three different thin substrates (RT/Duroid 5880 substrates with εr=2.2 and three different thicknesses of 0.253 mm, 0.508 mm and 0.762 mm) are integrated to provide simultaneous operation at S band (3～3.3 GHz) and X band (9～11 GHz). To allow similar scan ranges for both bands, the S-band elements are selected as perforated patches to enable the placement of the X-band elements within them. Square patches are used as the radiating elements for the X-band. Good agreement exists between the simulated and the measured results. The measured impedance bandwidth (VSWR≤2) of the prototype array reaches 9.5 % and 25 % for the S-and X-bands, respectively. The measured isolation between the two orthogonal polarizations for both bands is better than 15 dB. The measured cross-polarization level is ≤-21 dB for the S-band and ≤-20 dB for the X-band. Ⅰ. IntroductionEmbedded in the superstructure of future navy ships will be a variety of antenna arrays that will perform different functions such as radar. The advanced multi-function RF concept (AMRFC) testbed has separate Tx and Rx arrays that were designed for future surface ships in an effort to provide the capability to perform a variety of functions [1]. The performance goal of AMRFC is to provide these functions in a near-concurrent and noninterfering manner [2]. Due to the many advantages of performance improvement for various function systems, the development of modern AMRFC radar systems requires advanced antennas operating in multiband with multi-polarization. In general, a dual-polarized operation can provide more useful information about target features, enhance the isolation between transmitter/receiver, and double the capacity of communication systems by means of frequency reuse [3,4]. A multiband operation, on the other hand, can provide a finer resolution scanning and better penetration and reflection data from various scatterers.Recently dual-band and dual polarized antenna arrays have been widely studied for satellite and wireless communication applications, particularly for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications [5～9]. Operating frequencies are usually widely separated (typically some combination of L-, C-, S-or X-bands) and, require different array element spacing to avoid grating lobes. This spacing implies that an interleaved arrangement of elements at each band needs to be optimized. In [5], a dual-frequency (S-band and X-band) antenna for airborne applications was proposed, but this array has narrow bandwidth at both S-and X-bands. A dual-band dual-polarized array design consisting of four double dipole radiators for WLAN applications [6] was suggested to provide very low cross-polarization levels. However, these techniques can not be utilized for the AMRFC radar applications due to their complex structures. A compact three-layer shared-apertur...

Dual‐frequency dual‐polarised shared‐aperture microstrip antenna array with suppressed higher order modes

“…Various configurations of DFDP SAA like interlaced [3], nested, planar, perforated [5,6], and cross with square [7] have been reported in literature. DFDP antennas have been reported for S-and X-bands in [3,4,8,9] and other frequency bands in [5,6]. However, none of these papers discuss the problem of interference between higher order modes of the first frequency with the desired higher frequency.…”

“…In [4], printed dipole antennas in orthogonal configuration and square patches along the crossed dipoles are reported at S-and X-bands without feed network having multiple coaxial feeds and size of 160 × 100 mm 2 . In [8], antenna has perforated configuration at S-and X-bands but without feed network having multiple coaxial feeds and size of 128 × 196 mm 2 . In [10], a square antenna surrounded by 1 × 2 square antenna array gives narrow bandwidth with use of large number of coaxial connectors.…”

Circularly polarized 4 × 8 stacked patch antenna phased array with enhanced bandwidth for commercial drones

“…Furthermore, dual‐polarized antenna arrays have been designed for satellite and wireless communication applications, particularly for radar communication and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications . A dual‐polarized and dual frequency (S‐band and X‐band) planar array has been proposed in Reference , but bandwidth is narrow in both bands.…”

“…Again, a dual‐polarized and dual frequency array design to provide very low cross‐polarization levels with complex structure of four double dipole radiators for WLAN applications is proposed in Reference . In Reference , a dual‐polarized dual frequency (S‐band and X‐band) planar antenna array design with five layers is proposed. A dual‐polarized narrow band design with three layers shared aperture is proposed in Reference for L and C‐band.…”

Design of S-Band Phased Array Antenna with High Isolation Using Broadside Coupled Split Ring Resonator

“…Over the past decades, the demand for phased array antennas (PAAs) has been growing rapidly with active research on them [1,2]. The PAA is widely used for high gain beam-forming and -scanning in telecommunication [3], microwave imaging [4,5], and radar applications [6]. Typical radiating elements of the PAA are the dipole, microstrip patch, and Vivaldi antenna.…”