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Implementation of a Novel Low-Cost Low-Profile Ku-Band Antenna Array for Single Beam Steering from SpacePhased array antennas afford many advantages over traditional reflector antennas due to their conformality, high aperture efficiency, and unfettered beam steering capability at the price of increased cost and complexity. This paper eliminates the complex and costly array backend via the implementation of a series fed array employing a propagation constant reconfigurable transmission line connecting each element in series. Scanning can then be accomplished through one small (less than or equal to 100mil) linear motion that controls propagation constant. Specifically, each element is fed via a reconfigurable coplanar stripline transmission line with a tapered dielectric insert positioned between the transmission line traces. The dielectric insert is allowed to move up and down to control propagation constant and therefore induce scanning. We present a 20 element patch array design, scanning from -25 deg. less than or equal to theta less than or equal to 21 deg. at 13GHz. Measurements achieve only10.5 deg. less than or equal to theta less than or equal to 22 deg. scanning due to a faulty, yet correctable, manufacturing process. Beam squint is measured to be plus or minus 3 deg. for a 600MHz bandwidth. This prototype was improved to give scanning of 3.5 deg. less than or equal to theta less than or equal to 22 deg. Cross-pol patterns were shown to be -15dB below the main beam. Simulations accounting for fabrication errors match measured patterns, thus validating the designs.
Document ID
20140012570
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Host, Nicholas K. (Ohio State Univ. Columbus, OH, United States)
Chen, Chi-Chih (Ohio State Univ. Columbus, OH, United States)
Volakis, John L. (Ohio State Univ. Columbus, OH, United States)
Miranda, Felix A. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
September 24, 2014
Publication Date
October 6, 2013
Subject Category
Communications And Radar
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN10638
Meeting Information
Meeting: Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA) 2013
Location: Columbus, OH
Country: United States
Start Date: October 6, 2013
End Date: October 11, 2013
Sponsors: Air Force Inst. of Tech., Ohio State Univ.
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX11AN16H
WBS: WBS 920121.01.04.01.10
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Reconfigurable Transmission Lines
Ku-Band
Phased Arrays

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