Circularly conformal patch array antenna with omnidirectional or electronically switched directive beam

Sánchez-Olivares, Pablo; Sanchez-Dancausa, Paula P.; Masa‐Campos, José Luis

doi:10.1049/iet-map.2017.0195

Cited by 20 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…To realize ESAAs in the microwave frequency range, a widely adopted approach integrates solid-state phase shifters [4,13,14], radiofrequency (RF) switches [9,15,16], p-i-n and Schottky diodes [17][18][19][20], varactors [21][22][23], etc., within each antenna element. Such integration adds functionality to the sensing element (e.g., frequency conversion, tunable phase delay), but it does not resolve the problems arising when multiplexing hundreds of such sensors to the transmitting/receiving circuitry as well as the digital control circuitry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interconnect for Dense Electronically Scanned Antenna Array Using High-Speed Vertical Connector

Valizade Shahmirzadi,

Nikolova,

Chen

2023

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We present the design and the performance evaluation of a new interconnect for large-scale densely packed electronically scanned antenna arrays that utilize a high-speed digital board-to-board vertical connector. The application targets microwave tissue, imaging in the frequency range from 3 GHz to 8 GHz. The tissue-imaging arrays consist of hundreds of active antenna elements, which require low-reflection, low-loss, and low-crosstalk connections to their respective receiving and transmitting circuits. The small antenna size and the high array density preclude the use of coaxial connectors, which are also expensive and mechanically unreliable. Modern board-to-board high-speed connectors promise bandwidths as high as 12 GHz, along with high pin density, mechanical robustness, and low cost. However, their compatibility with the various transmission lines leading to/from the miniature printed antenna elements and microwave circuitry is not well studied. Here, we focus on the design of the transitions from coplanar waveguide transmission lines to/from a high-speed vertical connector. The performance of the interconnect is examined through electromagnetic simulations and measurements. Comparison is carried out with the expensive sub-miniature push-on sub-micro coaxial connectors commonly used in miniature radio-frequency electronics. The results demonstrate that high-speed vertical connectors can provide comparable performance in the UWB frequency range.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interconnect for Dense Electronically Scanned Antenna Array Using High-Speed Vertical Connector

Valizade Shahmirzadi,

Nikolova,

Chen

2023

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The scanning of the radiation pattern main lobe, which is one of these techniques, has been extensively applied to planar array antennas by using tunable electronic components like varactor diodes, p-i-n diodes or digital phase shifters [1]- [5]. These components, which have been used by some of the authors in previous works [6], [7], allow a fast reconfiguration of the array characteristics but, as a counterpart, produce high levels of insertion losses. A recent alternative to varactor or p-i-n diodes is the use of functional materials to create reconfigurable antennas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanically Reconfigurable Linear Phased Array Antenna Based on Single-Block Waveguide Reflective Phase Shifters With Tuning Screws

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This work presents the design and prototyping of a reconfigurable phased array in Ku band (16 to 18 GHz) implemented in waveguide technology. The design is based on the use of a novel seamless waveguide module integrating four reconfigurable phase shifters to adjust the relative phase shift between the unitary elements of a linear array, which are illuminated uniformly by a corporate waveguide feeding network. The phase shifters are implemented by a 90 ○ hybrid coupler in waveguide technology where two of its ports are loaded with a tunable reactive load, implemented in this proof of concept with a tuning screw. The four phase shifters have been manufactured in a single part using direct metal laser sintering, avoiding the losses related to bad electric contacts and misalignments associated to multipart devices. This also simplifies the assembly of the full phased array, leading to a modular approach with three parts whose design can be addressed separately. The experimental results for the complete array antenna show great performance and demonstrate that the main-lobe of the radiation pattern can be effectively scanned continuously between the angles −25 ○ and 25 ○ , with a high efficiency in the whole design band thanks to the proposed waveguide implementation.

show abstract

“…Conformal arrays with beam switching capabilities based on passive feeding networks have been presented in [16] and [17]. Jaeck et al [16] developed a conical antenna at C band made of four switched 3-element subarrays spaced by 90 • in the azimuth plane with beam steering capabilities in the elevation plane.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this case, a complex control system is required to apply the suitable driving signals to the phase shifters of the beamforming network. Sanchez-Olivares et al [17] presented a compact eight-element circularly conformal array antenna at S band, but its feeding network only allows four switched beams of 90 • angular separation in azimuth. This low angular resolution entails approximately a 10 dB antenna gain loss at the boundaries of the sector covered by each switched beam.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taking into account compactness, manufacturing cost and control complexity as design criteria, our conformal circular antenna array is based on the same compact geometry as [17], implementing an eight-faced regular prism, but our developed feeding network allows a more flexible activation of the antenna elements and an angular resolution of 45 • between switched beams, limiting the antenna gain loss to 3 dB at the boundaries of each sector. In order to extend the maximum communication range of the system, our feeding network includes active transmitting and receiving paths, increasing the EIRP in transmission and enhancing the noise figure in reception.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Smart Relay Architecture for Over-the-Horizon High Quality Communications With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper presents a system architecture to accomplish over-the-horizon communications with medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in order to enhance its autonomy and maximum range. This architecture is based on using a second UAV as a communication relay with a compact active circular array with separated transmitting and receiving elements at C-band. The designed active feeding network provides switching capabilities in order to selectively activate these elements depending on the desired direction of the antenna beam, achieving maximum equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) in transmission and maximum antenna gain in reception. In this way, a bidirectional long-range link for telemetry, telecommand, and high-resolution video can be deployed between UAVs providing high quality of service, reliability, and moderate data throughput at an affordable cost. Based on the measurements of a manufactured prototype, the maximum range of the deployed air-air link using the designed system is estimated in 20 km, considerably increasing the performance of current systems based on the use of omnidirectional antennas onboard UAVs.INDEX TERMS Antenna array, beam steering, beam-switching, microwave circuits, over-the-horizon communications, patch antennas, relay architecture, switched circuit, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

show abstract

Circularly conformal patch array antenna with omnidirectional or electronically switched directive beam

Cited by 20 publications

References 25 publications

Interconnect for Dense Electronically Scanned Antenna Array Using High-Speed Vertical Connector

Interconnect for Dense Electronically Scanned Antenna Array Using High-Speed Vertical Connector

Mechanically Reconfigurable Linear Phased Array Antenna Based on Single-Block Waveguide Reflective Phase Shifters With Tuning Screws

Smart Relay Architecture for Over-the-Horizon High Quality Communications With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About