Conformal phased array with beam forming for airborne satellite communication

Abstract

For enhanced communication on board of aircraft novel antenna systems with broadband satellite-based capabilities are required. The installation of such systems on board of aircraft requires the development of a very low-profile aircraft antenna, which can point to satellites anywhere in the upper hemisphere. To this end, phased array antennas which are conformal to the aircraft fuselage are attractive. In this paper two key aspects of conformal phased array antenna arrays are addressed: the development of a broadband Ku-band antenna and the beam synthesis for conformal array antennas. The antenna elements of the conformal array are stacked patch antennas with dual linear polarization which have sufficient bandwidth. For beam forming synthesis a method based on a truncated Singular Value Decomposition is proposed.

Self‐adapting conformal phased array antennas for complex changing surfaces

“…The applications of modern wireless communication systems are growing fast thus requiring antennas to satisfy evermore complex demands, like for example wearable functionalities, load‐bearing capabilities, vibration tolerances and extreme environmental immunity . In order to meet some of the aforementioned requirements, designers have turned to the development of conformal array antennas , i.e., antennas that are capable of adapting to the changing surface on which they are placed.…”

Performance Analysis of Microstrip Conformal Antenna Array and Effect of Mutual Coupling for Different Curvature

“…However there is also some disadvantages like lower efficiency and narrow bandwidth due to surface waves, feeding loss, dielectric loss. Hence to design antenna for prescribed shape without reducing performance is our new challenge [9][10][11][12][13]. Antenna array is known as conformal array when the elements of antenna are conformed on the surface like cylinder, sphere, a cone or other similar without causing extra drag.…”

Conformal antenna array modelling, FDTD predictions and measurements for Dual Circular Patch in Variable Geometry Conformal Antenna Array Test Rig

“…Conformal Antenna Arrays in particular support the same wide range of applications while reducing the requirements on the supporting structure. In the aerospace sector Conformal Antenna Arrays may be chosen to eliminate the drag from the radome required for a planar antenna array or mechanically steered reflector [2], while in the communications sector, a conformal array capable of wide angle beam steering would allow a low profile Base Station installation on the corner of a building. A low cost, modular conformal antenna array design could provide greater functionality in these environments, a larger coverage area and multiple beams for high throughput communications standards such as the emerging 5G standard.…”

“…This study proposes that given the development of sophisticated Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) modelling tools, it is now possible to design a conformal array directly for a set of requirements, based on the surface geometry available. Dependant upon the frequency and geometry of interest the difference between a true 'conformal' array of conformal antenna elements such as presented by Liu et al [3], and Schippers et al [2], and a conformal array of modular 'facets' may become increasingly irrelevant.…”