Ka‐band phased patch array antenna integrated with a PET‐controlled phase shifter. Issue 3 (25th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Yifei; Bai, Jian; Shi, Shouyuan; Prather, Dennis W.
• Is Part Of: International journal of RF and microwave computer-aided engineering. Volume 26:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 199
• Page End: 208
• Publication Date: 2015-11-25
• Subjects: phased array -- true time‐delay phase shifter -- piezoelectric transducer -- continuous beam steering -- Ka‐band -- slot‐coupled patch; Microwave devices -- Computer-aided design -- Periodicals; Computer-aided engineering -- Periodicals; 621.3813
• DOI: 10.1002/mmce.20953
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1096-4290

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this article, a 4 × 4 linear‐phased patch array antenna, consisting of four 1 × 4 patch subarrays and a true time‐delay multiline phase shifter, is proposed on a thin film liquid crystal polymer substrate at Ka‐band. The patch antenna is designed with a gain of 6 dBi at 35 GHz and a bandwidth of 23% centered at 35 GHz. To enhance the gain and symmetrize the beam patterns of the 4 × 4 array, a 1 × 4 patch subarray in the E ‐plane was designed and characterized. The subarray produces an enhanced gain of 11 dBi and a wide beamwidth of ±38° in the H ‐plane for beam steering. The proposed phase shifter comprises a 1 × 4 microstrip line power splitter and a piezoelectric transducer‐controlled phase perturber. A large phase variation of up to 370° and a low insertion loss of less than 2 dB were demonstrated for the phase shifter at Ka‐band. The integrated phased array attains a gain of 15.6 dBi, and a continuous true‐time delay beam steering of up to 33 ± 1° from 31 to 39 GHz. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 26:199–208, 2016.