Phased array-fed antenna configuration study: Technology assessment

Spacecraft array fed reflector antenna systems were assessed for particular application to a multiple fixed spot beam/multiple scanning spot beam system. Reflector optics systems are reviewed in addition to an investigation of the feasibility of the use of monolithic microwave integrated circuit power amplifiers and phase shifters in each element of the array feed

Antenna Design for 5G and Beyond

With the rapid evolution of the wireless communications, fifth-generation (5G) communication has received much attention from both academia and industry, with many reported efforts and research outputs and significant improvements in different aspects, such as data rate speed and resolution, mobility, latency, etc. In some countries, the commercialization of 5G communication has already started as well as initial research of beyond technologies such as 6G.MIMO technology with multiple antennas is a promising technology to obtain the requirements of 5G/6G communications. It can significantly enhance the system capacity and resist multipath fading, and has become a hot spot in the field of wireless communications. This technology is a key component and probably the most established to truly reach the promised transfer data rates of future communication systems. In MIMO systems, multiple antennas are deployed at both the transmitter and receiver sides. The greater number of antennas can make the system more resistant to intentional jamming and interference. Massive MIMO with an especially high number of antennas can reduce energy consumption by targeting signals to individual users utilizing beamforming.Apart from sub-6 GHz frequency bands, 5G/6G devices are also expected to cover millimeter-wave (mmWave) and terahertz (THz) spectra. However, moving to higher bands will bring new challenges and will certainly require careful consideration of the antenna design for smart devices. Compact antennas arranged as conformal, planar, and linear arrays can be employed at different portions of base stations and user equipment to form phased arrays with high gain and directional radiation beams. The objective of this Special Issue is to cover all aspects of antenna designs used in existing or future wireless communication systems. The aim is to highlight recent advances, current trends, and possible future developments of 5G/6G antennas

Development of omnidirectional collinear arrays with beam stability for base station and mobile applications.

Since the 1800’s, inventors have considered electromagnetic radiation as a medium for communications between ship and shore and base to mobile. Generally, these were narrow band services, supported by simple series fed arrays. These arrays are limited in bandwidth by an inherent tapered phase profile which exhibits an undesirable vertical beam angle shift with excessive change in frequency. With a symmetrical tapered or linear phase profile, the radiation pattern remains on the horizon over at least 10% bandwidth. This thesis aims to presents the development of an antenna which has a unique compact planar architecture, and has achieved the performance required for broad band communications channels in the 900 MHz band. With low cost; volume manufacture, PIM and PIP considered. A major achievement in this work has been the development of a planar passive coupled dipole array with coplanar feed network presented on a single sided low cost flexible PCB. In this format, the array can be re produced accurately at a fraction of the cost of the conventional sleeve dipole arrays. Due to PCB processing limits for track spacing, the array has been designed with a main transmission line track spacing of 0.65mm resulting in a higher impedance of 86 Ohms. At this track spacing, the main transmission line can withstand a 2.1 kV ionisation test allowing for a PIP value of 1 Kw. To compliment this planar array, a specially designed planar dipole; matched to the new feed network scheme. With slots to augment the radiation pattern for improved directivity and reduced azimuth ripple, and notches to stagger tune the dipole to cover a broader than otherwise band and compensate for the reactance associated with close proximity to the slotline tracks. This dipole meets broad bandwidth and omnidirectional pattern specifications similar to cylindrical sleeve dipoles, while still maintaining inter-stage isolation. To further compliment the array attributes, a robust coaxial cable connection to the thin and flexible substrate employs a novel passive coupler transition circuit. The proposed transition is electromagnetically coupled to source and ground terminals of the array, eliminating the need for soldering, resulting in low loss, low PIM “Passive intermodulation” typically <-148 dBc, This coupler also provides the impedance transformation from 70 Ohms to 50 Ohms. An omnidirectional six element “coplanar waveguide(CPW)” fed collinear array was assembled from the planar feed network, dipole elements and passive coupler components, having a total length approximately 1.8 meters. This large array has the unique attributes of wide band, less than 1 degree beam tilt over a frequency range of 850 to 960 MHz (for a measured reflection coefficient magnitude greater than 14 dB), with low measured passive intermodulation below -140dBc “Decibel power ratio relative to transmit carrier”. The prototype collinear array can also withstand a wind loading of 240 km/h. The resulting antenna array meets the desired frequency band and has extremely stable radiation pattern, with a gain of 10 dBi

New quasi-TEM waveguides using artificial surfaces and their application to antennas and circuits

Research interest: In recent years we have seen the emergence of commercial applications at high frequencies, such as the top part of the microwave band and the millimeter and sub-millimeter bands, and it is expected a big increase in the coming years. This growing demand requires a rapid development of low-cost technology with good performance at these frequencies, where common technologies, such as microstrip and standard waveguides, have some shortcomings. In particular, existing solutions for high-gain planar scanning antennas at these frequencies su er from the disadvantages of these technologies giving rise to high-cost products not suitable for high volume production. Objectives: The main objective of this thesis is to study the feasibility of a new proposal to improve existing solutions to date for low-cost high-gain planar scanning antennas at high frequencies. This overall objective has resulted in another central objective of this thesis, which is the research of new quasi-TEM waveguides that are more appropriate than current technologies for the realization of circuits and components at these frequency bands. These guided solutions make use of periodic or arti cial surfaces in order to con- ne and channel the elds within these waveguides. Methodology: The work follows a logical sequence of speci c tasks aimed at achieving the main objective of this thesis. Chapter 2 presents the proposed guiding solution and shows its performance numerical and experimentally. The optimized design of high-gain antennas based on waveguide slot arrays requires the development of e cient ad-hoc codes. The implementation and validation of this code is presented in Chapter 3, where a new method for the analysis of corrugated surfaces is proposed, and in Chapter 4, which extends this code to the analysis of waveguide slot arrays. The process design and optimization of a two-dimensional array is described in Chapter 5, where a preliminary experimental validation is also described. Moreover, the proposed guiding solution has inspired the development of a new guiding technology of wider bandwidth and more versatile for the realization of circuits and components at high frequencies. Chapter 6 presents the contributions to the study of this technology and its application to the design of circuits.Alfonso Alós, E. (2011). New quasi-TEM waveguides using artificial surfaces and their application to antennas and circuits [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/11073Palanci

1-D broadside-radiating leaky-wave antenna based on a numerically synthesized impedance surface

A newly-developed deterministic numerical technique for the automated design of metasurface antennas is applied here for the first time to the design of a 1-D printed Leaky-Wave Antenna (LWA) for broadside radiation. The surface impedance synthesis process does not require any a priori knowledge on the impedance pattern, and starts from a mask constraint on the desired far-field and practical bounds on the unit cell impedance values. The designed reactance surface for broadside radiation exhibits a non conventional patterning; this highlights the merit of using an automated design process for a design well known to be challenging for analytical methods. The antenna is physically implemented with an array of metal strips with varying gap widths and simulation results show very good agreement with the predicted performance

Beam scanning by liquid-crystal biasing in a modified SIW structure

A fixed-frequency beam-scanning 1D antenna based on Liquid Crystals (LCs) is designed for application in 2D scanning with lateral alignment. The 2D array environment imposes full decoupling of adjacent 1D antennas, which often conflicts with the LC requirement of DC biasing: the proposed design accommodates both. The LC medium is placed inside a Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) modified to work as a Groove Gap Waveguide, with radiating slots etched on the upper broad wall, that radiates as a Leaky-Wave Antenna (LWA). This allows effective application of the DC bias voltage needed for tuning the LCs. At the same time, the RF field remains laterally confined, enabling the possibility to lay several antennas in parallel and achieve 2D beam scanning. The design is validated by simulation employing the actual properties of a commercial LC medium

Radar Technology

In this book “Radar Technology”, the chapters are divided into four main topic areas: Topic area 1: “Radar Systems” consists of chapters which treat whole radar systems, environment and target functional chain. Topic area 2: “Radar Applications” shows various applications of radar systems, including meteorological radars, ground penetrating radars and glaciology. Topic area 3: “Radar Functional Chain and Signal Processing” describes several aspects of the radar signal processing. From parameter extraction, target detection over tracking and classification technologies. Topic area 4: “Radar Subsystems and Components” consists of design technology of radar subsystem components like antenna design or waveform design

Antenna Design for 5G and Beyond

This book is a reprint of the Special Issue Antenna Design for 5G and Beyond that was published in Sensors

Multifunctional Reconfigurable Antennas and Arrays Operating at 60 GHz band

To meet the ever increasing demand of high data rate, millimeter-wave (mm-wave) wireless communication has become an area of intense research due to the capability of offering very broad bandwidth. However, the propagation losses increase as a function of operation frequency. Therefore, there is need for antenna systems with high gain and beam-steering capability at elevated frequencies, which comes at the expense of high cost and increased complexity. This dissertation demonstrates the design, micro-fabrication, and characterization of two different antennas and two different antenna arrays. A broadband patch antenna operating within (57-66) GHz band, which works as a building block to create a multifunctional reconfigurable antenna (MRA) that is capable of beam steering in three directions pertaining to θ ∈{-30°, 0°, 30°}; Φ=90°. These standalone antennas were then put in a linear formation to create a 2x8 planar array and a 4x1 multifunctional reconfigurable antenna array (MRAA) to increase the gain further and to offer wider bandwidth. The proposed novel MRA and MRAA possess variable element factors, which potentially can feature as the main building blocks of mm-wave reconfigurable wireless communication systems with reduced cost and complexity