Multilayer feeding of a microstrip patch sub-array using parallel-plate dielectric waveguides (PPDW)

The use of a parallel-plate dielectric waveguide (PPDW) may be useful as a possible alternative to stripline, which can potentially overcome the basic problems faced by a stripline-type circuit. We present a prototype design and experiment of a microstrip patch sub-array, fed by a PPDW network configured in four layers. The geometry is shown in . The results demonstrate that similar multilayer PPDW feed configurations can really be attractive substitutes for printed striplines, providing high efficiency in layer-to-layer coupling, antenna excitation and power distribution.