Design of a Wide-angle Scan, X-band, digital array radar antenna

Author

Gulbrandsen, Fredrik ; Nysaeter, Asgeir ; Paichard, Yoann

Author_Institution

Norwegian Defence Res. Establ. (FFI), Kjeller, Norway

fYear

2014

fDate

19-23 May 2014

Firstpage

1373

Lastpage

1377

Abstract

This paper presents the design of an X-band 8×8 digital array radar antenna with aperture-coupled stacked patch antenna elements. The use of a resonant aperture and stacked patches resulted in a -10 dB reflection coefficient bandwidth of 7.6-12.8 GHz (51%). Scan angles up to ±80 have been achieved for certain frequencies and ±55 for a frequency band of 8-8.50 GHz. The array has been built using low loss materials leading to a radiation efficiency of 97%. Backwards radiation and wave propagation in the substrate have been reduced by using a ground shield and via cages around the apertures. The antenna has been designed and analyzed using the Ansys HFSS analysis software.

Keywords

antenna arrays; electromagnetic wave propagation; microstrip antennas; radar antennas; Ansys HFSS analysis software; X-band; aperture-coupled stacked patch antenna elements; backwards radiation; bandwidth 7.6 GHz to 12.8 GHz; digital array radar antenna; frequency 8 GHz to 8.50 GHz; ground shield; reflection coefficient bandwidth; resonant aperture; wave propagation; wide angle scan; Antenna measurements; Apertures; Arrays; Gain; Impedance; Radar antennas;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Radar Conference, 2014 IEEE

Conference_Location

Cincinnati, OH

Print_ISBN

978-1-4799-2034-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/RADAR.2014.6875814

Filename

6875814