Ultra-Low-Profile Continuous Transverse Stub Array for SatCom Applications

Abstract

Modern K/Ka-band satellite communications have become increasingly demanding in recent years with regard to the performance of the terminal antenna used in the link. These terminals should be high-gain and broadband, as well as guarantee polarization diversity over a large field-of-view. A lowprofile is also highly desired to integrate the antenna system into a variety of moving platforms such as aircraft and trains. An ultra-low-profile continuous transverse stub array is proposed here to tackle these challenges. The antenna array is realized in printed circuit board technology by adopting a contactless transition between the stacked-up layers without resorting to blind or buried vias. The proposed antenna is wideband (impedance matched within the band 19-31 GHz, i.e., ∼ 50%) and provides multi-beam radiation for polar angles as far as ±22.5 • . The peak value of the gain is 19.7 dBi and the maximum radiation efficiency equals 50%. Furthermore, the antenna array is combined with a dual-band polarization converter. The latter provides orthogonal circular polarization in two non-adjacent bands. The overall antenna system performs right-and left-hand circular polarization within the SatCom down-and up-links in the K/Ka-band, respectively. For each polarization, the axial ratio is below 3 dB over 9.47% and 4.42% fractional bandwidths, respectively.

High-Gain Tapered Long Slot Array for Satcom Applications in PCB Technology With Folded Corporate Feed Network

“…The widths between any two rows of vias (referred to by 'W' in Fig. 3b) are limited by a maximum of λ 0 /4, following the guidelines in [16], [38], where λ 0 is the wavelength at 31 GHz. The final optimized dimensions for the systems from 1 to 4 are reported in Table I.…”

“…This work focuses on the design of the linearly-polarized long slot array and its integration with a very broadband pillbox beamformer to cover with a single aperture the K/Ka band of Satcom applications over a large field of view (±42°i n elevation). Compared to our previous works [11], [14], [16], we present a novel design of a 64-slots tapered long slot array with a minimum measured gain of 30.8 dBi at 19.5 GHz. The long slot array is fabricated using PCB technology, while the pillbox beamformer is fabricated by CNC milling.…”

A Dual-Polarized CTS Array Antenna with Four Reconfigurable Beams for mm-Wave Wind Profile Radar

“…Table 1 compares the proposed CTS antenna with other works, highlighting its advantages of high gain (>31 dBi), low sidelobe (<−17.6 dB), dual-polarization, and four beams. In contrast to the LSG represented as a horn combined with a reflector as outlined in [32][33][34][35], the LSG configured as a power divider offers the convenience of feeding the…”

Wide-Angle Beam-Switching Antenna with Stable Gain Based on a Virtual Image Lens

“…Parallel plate waveguide (PPW) quasi-optical beamformers provide attractive properties for antenna systems at high frequencies (typically above 20 GHz) [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Importantly, these beamformers can enable beam steering over a wide field of view without costly and lossy circuitry, which makes them attractive for future communication systems.…”

“…Importantly, these beamformers can enable beam steering over a wide field of view without costly and lossy circuitry, which makes them attractive for future communication systems. Specifically, non-rotationally symmetric quasi-optical beamforming antennas have demonstrated beam steering up to ±50 • [3][4][5][6][7][8]. A wider steering range can be obtained using antennas based on rotationally symmetric lenses, e.g., Luneburg lenses [9][10][11][12][13][14].…”