Experimental Validation of a Correcting Coupling Mechanism to Extend the Scanning Range of Narrowband Phased Array Antennas

This article presents a technique designed to extend the scanning range of a probe-fed patch array whose performances are limited by scan blindness, due to a strong surface wave coupling. The current framework relates to the context of radar applications requiring a large scanning range (up to 60°)...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on antennas and propagation 2020-03, Vol.68 (3), p.2078-2086
Main Authors: Manga, Aurelien Ayissi, Gillard, Raphael, Loison, Renaud, Roy-Naneix, Isabelle Le, Renard, Christian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antenna arrays
Blindness
Coupling
Couplings
Impedance matching
Microstrip antenna arrays
Microstrip transmission lines
Narrowband
Optimization
Phased arrays
radar
scan blindness
Scanning
surface wave
Surface waves
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This article presents a technique designed to extend the scanning range of a probe-fed patch array whose performances are limited by scan blindness, due to a strong surface wave coupling. The current framework relates to the context of radar applications requiring a large scanning range (up to 60°) and where no inter-element spacing modification is possible as a result of strong T/R modules integration constraints. The proposed solution is based on the introduction of an additional correcting coupling within the array, by means of microstrip lines connecting the sources two by two. A thorough step-by-step description of the design methodology is introduced. It is then implemented in the case of a single-polarized ten-element patch array operating in X-band. Simulation results as well as an experimental validation of the concept are presented. They assess the effective improvement of the active impedance matching and realized gain resulting from the use of connecting lines.
ISSN:0018-926X
1558-2221
DOI:10.1109/TAP.2019.2957079