Small-scale prototype of a Ku-band phased array for mobile satellite communications (original) (raw)

Low cost phased array for mobile Ku-band satellite terminal

This article presents the design of a low cost fully active phased array antenna with specific emphasis on the realization of an elementary radiating cell. The phased array antenna is designed for mobile satellite services and dedicated for automotive applications. Details on the radiating element design as well as its implementation in a multilayer's build-up are presented and discussed. Results of the measurements and characterization of the elementary radiating cell are also presented and discussed. An outlook of the next steps in the antenna realization concludes this paper.

Antenna array elements for Ka-band satellite communication on the move

2013 Loughborough Antennas & Propagation Conference (LAPC), 2013

Two dual-polarised reflectarray unit cells for the folded reflectarray and one linearly polarized array element for direct radiating array for Ka-band SatCom on the move are presented in this paper. All of these antenna unit cells have multilayered structure and are designed for the smart array antenna with beams that can be steered to large scanning angles. The unit cells for reflectarray are designed to operate at 29.5-30.8GHz band for both transmitting and receiving while the antenna element for the direct radiating array is designed to have a dual band operation: 29.5-30.8GHz for transmitting and 19.7-21.0GHz for receiving. These three antenna elements have a low profile and the simulation results show that they exhibit good radiation performance over the required frequency bands.

Flat array antenna for Ku-band mobile satellite terminals

2011

This work presents the advances in the development of an innovative flat array antenna for Ku-band mobile satellite terminals. The antenna is conceived to allow a bi-directional high data rate satellite link. The available circular surface (diameter 110 cm) integrates both a transmitting and a receiving section, operating in orthogonal linear polarizations. The TX frequency range is fully covered while the RX bandwidth is around 300 MHz arbitrarily allocated on the DVB range depending on requirements. The beam is steered in elevation through a phased array architecture not employing costly phase shifters, while the steering in azimuth is mechanical. Active BFNs in printed circuit technology allow excellent performance in terms of EIRP (42 dBW/1MHz, ITU-R S.728.1) and G/T (13 dB/°K at 40° in elevation), maintaining extremely low profile (< 5 cm, radome included). Gain as high as 32 dBi is achieved thanks to the use of slotted waveguide technology, while low fabrication costs are e...

A K-AND KA-BAND VEHICULAR PHASED-ARRAY ANTENNA

In the frame of the multi-segment System for Broadband Ubiquitous Access to Internet Services and demonstrator (SUITED) project, a phased array antenna has been designed with the ability to scan the beam over a certain angular range, especially at very low elevation angles. All the antenna parts were realized and measured, and their predicted performances were achieved. The antenna is fully integrated. The methods for adjusting amplitude and phase of each antenna element were also developed, including auxiliary hardware compatible with the standard antenna control board and auxiliary software for parameter settings. The methods were successfully tested in an anechoic chamber. Flexibility in adjusting phase and amplitude characteristics enables optimization of the radiation pattern. SUITED is funded by the European Union under the Information Society Technologies (IST) program, aiming to make a significant contribution towards the understanding and development of IP-based mobile networks, consisting of both satellite and terrestrial (UMTS, GPRS, W-LAN) components.

Antennas for mobile satellite communications

A NASA sponsored program, called the Mobile Satellite (MSAT) system, has prompted the development of several innovative antennas at L-band frequencies. In the space segment of the MSAT system, an efficient, light weight, circularly polarized microstrip array that uses linearly polarized elements has been developed as a multiplebeam reflector feed system. In the ground segment, a low-cost, low-profile, and very efficient microstrip Yagi array has been developed as a medium-gain mechanically steered vehicle antenna. Circularly shaped mierostrip patches excited at higher-order modes were also developed as low-gain vehicle antennas. A more recent effort called for the development of a 20/30 GHz mobile terminal antenna for future-generation mobile satellite communications. To combat the high insertion loss encountered at 20/30 GHz, series-fed MMIC (Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit) microstrip array antennas are currently being developed. These MMIC arrays may lead to the development of several small but high-gain Ka-band antennas for the Personal Access Satellite Service (PASS) planned for the 2000s. experiments have been planned to demonstrate communication technologies at Ka-band frequencies. One of the AMT's (ACTS Mobile Terminal) high risk technologies that are currently being developed at JPL is a compact and low-cost mobile antenna system. This is a mechanically steered series-fed microstrip array using active MMIC components. This antenna development, along with other Ka-band technologies, will lead to the development of several compact hand-held terminals in a future Personal Access Satellite Services (PASS) system I_3]. Both the above mentioned L-band and Ka-band satellite corcanunication antenna developments and concepts are individually described in the following sections.

Flat Array Antennas for Ku-Band Mobile Satellite Terminals

2009

This work presents the advances in the development of two innovative flat array antennas for Ku-band mobile satellite terminals. The first antenna is specifically conceived for double-deck trains to allow a bi-directional high data rate satellite link. The available circular surface (diameter 80 cm) integrates both a transmitting and a receiving section, operating in orthogonal linear polarizations. The TX frequency range is fully covered while the RX bandwidth is around 1 GHz arbitrarily allocated on the DVB range depending on requirements. The beam is steered in elevation through a phased array architecture not employing costly phase shifters, while the steering in azimuth is mechanical. Active BFNs allow excellent performance in terms of EIRP and G/T, maintaining extremely low profile. High antenna efficiency and low fabrication cost are ensured by the employment of innovative SIW (Substrate Integrated Waveguide) structures. The second antenna, receiving-only, is designed for radio/video streaming services in mobile environment. Full DVB coverage is achieved thanks to cavity-backed patches operating in double linear polarization. Two independent broadband active BFNs allow simultaneous reception of both polarizations with full tracking capabilities and a squintless beam steering from 20 • to 60 • in elevation. A minimum gain of 20 dBi and G/T > −3 dB/ • K are achieved, while maintaining extremely compact size and flat profile. In the design of both antennas fabrication cost is considered as a driving factor, yet providing high performance with a flat profile and thus resulting in a great commercial potentiality.

NATALIA: a satcom phased array in Ku-band

This article presents the prototype of an electronically steerable receive-only array antenna realised within the ESA-project NATALIA. This project is funded under contract number 18612/04/NL/US. The antenna is conceived for the reception of mobile satellite services in Ku-band and its design targets the market of automotive applications. The design of the prototype is based on an innovative polarisation agile phased array concept and exhibits an excellent RF-performance as well as a very compact envelope.

KU BAND BUILDING BLOCKS PHASED ARRAY COST EFFECTIVE CONCEPT FOR AERONAUTICAL APPLICATIONS

Among different solutions for mobile antenna systems, phased array antenna in general, cannot be considered as low cost especially in case if two-axis main beam scan is applied. Despite of this drawback regarding possible commercial application, this approach still remains attractive due to possibility to provide very low contour, high system agility, lower antenna aperture noise temperature and global coverage avoiding equator problem. This paper presents a flexible concept that among similar known solutions can be described as a cost effective. The antenna only receive terminal has been fully in house developed for trials on workbench platform that has to provide similar in flight motions for outdoor trials. The antenna terminal composed of 768 dual polarized elements operating in the range 10.95-12.75GHz is ready for an extensive anechoic chamber and field test campaign.

Index Terms— Vehicular Communications, Satellite Antennas, Phased Array Antennas

A novel design solution for a low-profile full-duplex Satellite Communications-On-The-Move hybrid scanned phased array antenna for low elevation angle coverage (down to 10°) is described. The antenna is operated at Ku-Band. The unique louvered array element geometry in combination with a spatial filter/ "ray bending" lens facilitates the shaping of the element pattern to increase gain at low elevation angles. Preliminary modelling results using simple ray-tracing indicate that the desired low angle coverage can be achieved.

Development of Enabling Technologies for Ku-Band Airborne SATCOM Phased-Arrays

Electronics

In the paper the development of a fully electronic transmit-receive phased-array antenna system in Ku-band for aircraft communications via satellite is presented. Particular emphasis has been placed in the improvement of the following key elements: a dual-polarization self-diplexing radiating element, a transmit/receive active module with full polarization agility based on a digital vector modulator and a SiGe multinode MMIC. The optimized antenna elements enable a significant improvement towards the realization of a future affordable commercial product for satellite communications.