Design of an Efficient X-Band Waveguide-Fed Microstrip Patch Array

The design and fabrication of a 10.5 GHz microstrip patch array fed by a waveguide is presented. The gain of this antenna is 29 dB and its efficiency is 65%. Commonly, the efficiency of conventional microstrip arrays at X-band is not more than 50%. This antenna demonstrates the ability to accomplish a very high efficiency at X-band in a simple structure. This is achieved by using a slotted waveguide to feed the planar array. To allow symmetrical feed of this antenna, the waveguide is a center-fed slotted waveguide, the two ends of which are shorted. The design procedure is expatiated, which contains the study and design of the waveguide-fed subarray structure and of the coax-to- waveguide transition structure. For designing this entire antenna, a three-dimensional electromagnetic field simulation software CST Microwave Studio is applied. Good agreement is achieved between measurement and simulation results.