Dual-Polarized 2–6 GHz Antenna Array With Inverted BoR Elements and Integrated PCB Feed

Matti Kuosmanen,Juha Ala-Laurinaho,Johan Malmstrom,Sten E Gunnarsson,Henri Kahkonen,Ville Viikari,Jari Holopainen

doi:10.1109/ojap.2022.3143993

Matti Kuosmanen, Juha Ala-Laurinaho + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/ojap.2022.3143993

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Abstract

This article presents a wideband, dual-polarized antenna array with inverted BoR elements. The antenna structure is based on the conventional body-of-revolution (BoR) element, but the structure is inverted; i.e., instead of metallic cones, the elements are metalized cavities inside a dielectric block. This structure allows a more lightweight and low-cost design since all-metal parts are not needed. In addition to the inverted BoR structure, this paper proposes a feeding system that is fully integrated into a 5-mm-thick standard printed circuit board. The designed antenna operates at 2–6 GHz, providing 3:1 impedance bandwidth with an active reflection coefficient (ARC) < −10 dB. The ARC<−10 dB criterion is fulfilled for all beam-steering angles up to ±50° in all planes. The operation of the simulated antenna array was verified by measuring a built prototype. The measurement results are in good agreement with the simulations. However, the radiation efficiency of the prototype was approximately 11% inferior than that of the conventional all-metal BoR array due to conduction losses caused by the metalization of the used dielectric.

Highlights

M ODERN needs for communication and sensing applications place increasingly stricter requirements on antennas
In turn, are inherently wideband due to their need to sense a large variety of signals from the environment
In turn, are used in electronic warfare (EW), where directive, beam-steerable arrays are required for passive sensing and jamming

Summary

Introduction

M ODERN needs for communication and sensing applications place increasingly stricter requirements on antennas. KUOSMANEN et al.: DUAL-POLARIZED 2–6 GHz ANTENNA ARRAY WITH INVERTED BoR ELEMENTS AND INTEGRATED PCB FEED The array consists of four functional parts: BoR elements, back cavity, ground plane, and feed network.

Results

Conclusion