A Multi-Band Circularly Polarized-Shared Aperture Antenna for Space Applications at S and X Bands

Abstract

In this article, a compact multiband antenna design and analysis is presented with a view of ensuring efficient uplink/downlink communications at the same time from a single antenna for CubeSat applications. This design shares the aperture of an S-band slot antenna to accommodate a square patch antenna operating in the X-band. Shared aperture antennas, along with an air gap and dielectric loading, provided good gain in both frequency bands. The S-band patch had an S11 = −10 dB bandwidth of 30 MHz (2013–2043 MHz, 1.5%), and the X-band antenna demonstrated a bandwidth of 210 MHz (8320–8530 MHz, 2.5%). The Axial Ratio (<3 dB) bandwidth of the slot antenna in the S-band is 7 MHz (2013–2020 MHz, 0.35%), and it is 67 MHz (8433–8500 MHz, 0.8%) in the case of patch antenna in the X-band. While the maximum gain in the S-band reached 7.7 dBic, in the X-band, the peak gain was 12.8 dBic. This performance comparison study shows that the antenna is advantageous in terms of high gain, maintains circular polarization over a wideband, and can replace two antennas needed in CubeSats for uplink/downlink, which essentially saves space.

Dielectric-Loaded Horn Antenna Design and Simulation Using the Metamaterial Method

“…To achieve a wider bandwidth, multi-band horns have been proposed. The multi-band horns broaden the bandwidth and perform well in aperture efficiency and cross-polarization isolation [15,16]. Nevertheless, the multi-band horns work at several different frequencies, respectively; the bandwidth for each working band is not wide.…”

On Accelerated Metaheuristic-Based Electromagnetic-Driven Design Optimization of Antenna Structures Using Response Features

“…Modern antenna systems have to satisfy stringent performance specifications and multi-functionality demands [1], implied by the requirements stemming from newlydeveloped areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT) [2], wireless communications [3] including 5G [4,5], body area networks [6], microwave imaging [7], satellite communications [8], radar [9], or remote sensing [10]. Specific functionalities required for these and other applications include broadband [11] and multi-band functioning [12], multiple-input-multipleoutput (MIMO) operation [13], circular polarization [14], beam scanning [15], reconfigurability [16,17], high directivity [18], polarization/pattern diversity [19], etc. Apart from boosting electrical and field parameters, miniaturization demands also become commonplace, being especially important for mobile communications [20], implantable/wearable devices [21], and IoT [22].…”

Ka-Band Wide-Angle Scanning Phased Array with Dual Circular Polarization

“…Many CP phased arrays with beam-steering capability in the MMW band have been reported [13,14]. The most commonly used method to achieve CP radiation is to chamfer the patch of the microstrip antenna [15]. For example, ref.…”