A Low-Sidelobe Circularly Polarized Continuous Beam-Scanning Array Using Double-Layer Rotated Structure for Ku-Band Satellite Communications

作者：Hu, Bo; Chen, Peng; Zhang, Ke; Xu, Jun; Yu, Xutao^*

来源：IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, 2022, 21(3): 605-609.

DOI：10.1109/LAWP.2021.3139340

• Antenna arrays
• Couplings
• Slot antennas
• Phased arrays
• Phase shifters
• Satellite antennas
• Transmission line matrix methods
• Array antenna
• circularly polarized (CP)
• low-sidelobe level (SLL)
• satellite communications
• substrate integrated waveguide (SIW)

In this letter, a low-sidelobe level (SLL) circularly polarized (CP) beam-scanning array antenna based on a double-layer rotated structure is proposed for Ku-band satellite communications. It is comprised of a 16 x 24 CP substrate integrated waveguide slot antenna array and a rotatable feeding network. Detailed design methodology and working mechanism of the proposed antenna array are presented and analyzed, in particular, the method of achieving low SLL in Blass matrix design. A prototype was fabricated and measured, and the measured results indicate that an AR < 1.5 dB and a max SLL suppression of 19.4 dB at 11.95 GHz can be achieved. Its superiorities of low profile, low SLL, high gain, and continuous beam-scanning ability make the proposed array antenna a promising candidate for satellite communications.