2 × 2 stacked patch array with corporate SIW feeding network

A linearly polarized 2×2 patch array fed by a corporate Substrate Integrated Waveguide network for Ku band is presented. The utilization of a corporate topology in the feeding network prevents the antenna from suffering an unintended main lobe tilt dispersion. Nevertheless, the inter-element spacing increases, and so does the Side-Lobe Level. Reducing this spacing implies closer discontinuities, such as bends and T-junctions. This degrades the reflection coefficient. Hence, a tradeoff solution has been designed and manufactured, achieving a Side-Lobe Level better than -11 dB and a measured bandwidth similar to the e×pected in the simulation stage, being 4.1 % at -10 dB. The measured gain reaches 13.27 dB, which corresponds to an 86% radiation efficiency.