EBG Superstrate Array Configuration for the WAAS Space Segment

Abstract

Two different electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) superstrate array antenna configurations, intended for the wide area augmentation service space segment, are presented in this paper. The described antenna configurations take advantage of the directivity enhancement produced by a semireflective sheet placed parallel to a metallic ground plane. The first design presented is realized using a 2times2 circularly polarized (CP) patch array illuminating an EBG superstrate composed of a square pattern of circular holes etched in a thin metallic sheet. The second design consists of a 2times2 CP helix array feeding a hexagonal pattern of holes etched into a metallic EBG superstrate. Both configurations have been designed, breadboarded, and measured, and excellent agreement between simulations and measurements has been recorded. The accurate control of the antenna pattern phase center variation with both the frequency and the antenna field of view, necessary for the intended navigation antenna application, has been the principal challenge of this work. The EBG technology designs presented here are simpler than conventional navigation antennas and can lead to cost reduction, beamforming network simplification, and height reduction while offering similar radio-frequency performances to equivalent products realized in conventional technology.