Broadband and efficient patch array antenna fed by substrate integrated waveguide feed network for Ku‐band satellite applications

Abstract

A new class of multi-layer microstrip patch antenna (MPA) array fed by substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavities is presented for Ku-band applications. An efficient compact multi-layer SIW feeding network is designed, which has lower losses than the conventional corporate feeding network based on microstrip lines or coplanar waveguides. A 4 × 4 array consists of four stacked layers, including three based on the SIW technology as a feeding network and one layer for the radiating antenna array. Each layer can easily be fabricated from a dielectric substrate and processed using the printed circuit board (PCB) technology. Afterward, all the PCB laminates are stacked together and tied by screws. The measured antenna operates from 11.2 to 13.6 GHz achieving 19.35% bandwidth. The measured peak gain at 12.5 GHz is 17.1 dBi, equivalent to 71.47% aperture efficiency. The fabricated array exhibits several advantages: broadband, low cost, compactness, high radiation efficiency, high aperture efficiency, and lightweight, which makes it a candidate for Ku-band satellite applications.