Low-Cost Dual-Band Circularly Polarized Switched-Beam Array for Global Navigation Satellite System

Abstract

This paper presents the design and development of a dual-band switched-beam microstrip array for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) applications such as ocean reflectometry and remote sensing. In contrast to the traditional Butler matrix, a simple, low cost, broadband and low insertion loss beam switching feed network is proposed, designed and integrated with a dual band antenna array to achieve continuous beam coverage of ±25° around the boresight at the L1 (1.575 GHz) and L2 (1.227 GHz) bands. To reduce the cost, microstrip lines and PIN diode based switches are employed. The proposed switched beam network is then integrated with dual-band step-shorted annular ring (S-SAR) antenna elements in order to produce a fully integrated compact-sized switched beam array. Antenna simulation results show that the switched beam array achieves a maximum gain of 12 dBic at the L1 band and 10 dBic at the L2 band. In order to validate the concept, a scaled down prototype of the simulated design is fabricated and measured. The prototype operates at twice of the original design frequency i.e. 3.15 GHz and 2.454 GHz and the measured results confirm that the integrated array achieves beam switching and good performance at both bands

Advanced Antennas for Small Satellites

“…For GNSS relectometry and remote sensing applications, a multiband antenna with high gain and wide beam coverage is required. Maqsood et al [63] report a dual-band beam-switching planar antenna which integrates a low cost, broadband, and low-loss beam switching feed network with a dual-band antenna array to achieve antenna gain >10 dBi and continuous beam coverage of ±25° around the boresight at both L1 and L2 bands. Other antennas for GNSS relectometry are reported in [3].…”

Ten switched‐beams with 2 × 2 series‐fed 2.4 GHz array antenna and a simple beam‐switching network

“…The switched‐beam phased array antennas are used in emerging wireless applications including modern radars, biomedical and satellite systems . The switched‐beam antennas are an integral part of a promising keyless physical layer security technique termed as directional modulation (DM) to transmit the digitally modulated information signals in a prespecified secure wireless communication spatial direction in free space .…”

Planar Ultrathin Small Beam-Switching Antenna

“…However, the multi-port network of Butler matrix is rather bulky and complex. With the development of commercial semiconductor devices, it becomes increasingly popular to use low-cost switches such as the positive-intrinsic-negative (PIN) diodes in the development of low-cost feed networks for beam-switching antennas and arrays [5][6][7].…”