Performance analysis of TSA array with elliptical patch

Abstract

A compact microstrip to substrate integrated waveguide transition feed tapered slot antenna array (1 × 4) with the elliptical patch is proposed and analyzed. The new approach is presented, employing a parasitic patch in the flared aperture to generate more radiation in the end-fire direction and improve field coupling between the arms. It boosts gain while maintaining overall size and low-frequency performance without using electrically thin dielectric substrates. To validate the designed approach, the proposed structure is fabricated and measured. The measured results show that the array provides impedance bandwidth of 40%, peak measured gain of 9.14 dBi, and radiation efficiency is 90% over the 8.5–12.5 GHz frequency band. A four-way feed network is also fabricated with the insertion loss of −6 ± 0.9 dB; the reflection coefficient is below −15 dB over the desired frequency range and only ±4° phase imbalance. The overall dimension of antenna array is 50 × 54 × 0.813 mm3 or ~1.6λ × 1.8λ × 0.027λ at 10 GHz.