Focused Connected Array Antenna as a Broadband Beam-Steering Feed for Quasi-Optical System

IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 70, pp. 5995–6000

Abstract

This communication proposes a broadband and efficient integrated focal plane array solution based on a near-field focused connected array of slots. The focused aperture provides: 1) broadband and highly efficient illumination of the quasi-optical system and 2) scanning capabilities within a focusing system. The connected array antenna in turn allows for a fully integrated solution that can synthesize a focused aperture while providing broadband impedance matching. Focused connected array antennas enable the coupling to a reflector system over bandwidths in excess of one octave and with aperture efficiencies in excess of 60%. To demonstrate the concept, we present two printed circuit board (PCB) prototypes operating in the band 3–6 GHz and yielding more than 60% reflector aperture efficiency under broadside illumination and allowing to scan one beamwidth at the lowest frequency with a frequency-averaged scan loss of 0.2 dB. The feasibility of scaling this concept to THz frequencies and with dynamic beam-steering capabilities is discussed in the context of a superconducting device.

Authors 4

1. Alejandro Pascual Laguna Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Delft University of Technology · Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   Microelectronics Department, THz Sensing Group, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Daniele Cavallo

   Delft University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Microelectronics Department, THz Sensing Group, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

3. J. J. A. Baselmans Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Delft University of Technology · Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   Microelectronics Department, THz Sensing Group, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Leiden, The Netherlands

4. Nuria Llombart

   Delft University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Microelectronics Department, THz Sensing Group, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands