Deployable Rigid-Flexible Tightly Coupled Dipole Array (RF-TCDA)

Maxence Carvalho,John L Volakis

doi:10.1109/ojap.2021.3127631

Maxence Carvalho, John L Volakis

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/ojap.2021.3127631

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Abstract

An origami-based Tightly Coupled Dipole Array (TCDA) is proposed for small satellite applications. The array is formed by a two-layered structure using rigid and flexible substrates to enable accordion-like folding. The proposed TCDA operates across 0.4-2.4 GHz with VSWR < 3 at broadside and across 0.6-2.4 GHz with VSWR < 3 when scanning down to 45∘ in the E-, D-, and H-plane. An 8 × 8 prototype was fabricated using Kapton Polyimide and FR4 and tested to verify the bandwidth and gain of the origami array. The fabricated prototype was demonstrated to be packable, low-profile, and lightweight (only 1.1kg). Notably, when packed, the array has a one-dimensional size reduction of 75%. As will be discussed, the packing compression is made possible by eliminating vertical PCB boards and incorporating the balun feeds within the dipole layer. To our knowledge, this is one of the first foldable, low profile, and low-scanning ultra-wideband arrays in the literature.

Highlights

CubeSats have become increasingly important for space applications due to their size and low deployment costs [1,2]
With the goal of developing ultra-wideband (UWB) and packable High Gain Antennas (HGA) for CubeSats, in this paper, we propose a class of origami-based Tightly Coupled Dipole Arrays (TCDAs), known to deliver optimal bandwidths [16]
A packable, low-profile, and low-scanning origami-based TCDA was proposed. This new class of RigidFlexible TCDA (RF-TCDA) was successfully demonstrated via measurements and shown to deliver the designed 6:1 bandwidth with a radiation efficiency of 85%, on average

Summary

INTRODUCTION

CubeSats have become increasingly important for space applications due to their size and low deployment costs [1,2]. There is strong interest in developing deployable and packable antenna apertures for small satellites. The growth of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions and planned Moon and Mars missions implies a strong demand for CubeSat High Gain Antennas (HGA) Already packable apertures such as mesh reflectors, inflatable antenna arrays, reflectarrays, and membrane arrays have been considered for CubeSats [3]. Deployable reflectarrays (RA) constitute a compact alternative to deployable mesh reflectors The latter are usually adapted to smaller CubeSats, but their narrow bandwidth is a limitation. With the goal of developing ultra-wideband (UWB) and packable HGA for CubeSats, in this paper, we propose a class of origami-based Tightly Coupled Dipole Arrays (TCDAs), known to deliver optimal bandwidths [16]. The proposed design provides a proof of concept for the design and fabrication of lightweight, deployable, and UWB apertures for small satellites

Foldable Unit Cell Design

Meandered Tapered Balun

Infinite Array Analysis

Semi-Infinite Array Simulations

Rigid-Flexible Array Fabrication

Active Impedance Measurements

Far-Field Measurements

PERFORMANCE UNDER STRUCTURAL DISTORTION

Single-Curvature Distortion

Double-Curvature Distortion

Findings

CONCLUSION AND REMARKS