A single‐layer high‐gain dipole antenna array with a bidirectional radiation pattern based on parallel‐strip line

Abstract

A single-layer dipole antenna array with quasi-Yagi configuration has been proposed and demonstrated, which provides a dual radiation pattern with the same sense. This antenna is mainly composed of a substrate-supported parallel strip line (PSL) and several periodic dipole elements. Fed by PSL, dipole elements can be stimulated with a uniform power, forming a linear dipole antenna array. By adjusting the elements separation appropriately, the step phase of array factor can be tuned to achieve the same directivity as the element dipole. When an SubMiniature version A (SMA) coaxial connector is connected at the beginning of PSL, the fundamental mode TEM in the PSL is excited and the radiation electromagnetic wave from the dipole elements is achieved. A taper line between the SMA and PSL can be used to reduce the discontinuity, minimizing the reflection coefficient of the port. According to the theory of classical Yagi antenna, the gain can be further improved by introducing multiple directors, achieving the gain increment of about 3 dBi in the proposed design. Considering 5 GHz frequency band applications (4.85–5.2 GHz), the experimental and simulated results show the proposed antenna array has a working bandwidth ( | S 11 | ≤ − 10 d B ) from 4.85 to 12 GHz.