Planar $Ku$ -Band 4 $\,\times\,$ 4 Nolen Matrix in SIW Technology

In this paper, a 4 × 4 Nolen matrix beam-forming network for multibeam antenna applications is designed and demonstrated at 12.5-GHz center frequency. The structure is implemented using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology for its attractive advantages including compact size, low loss, light weight, and planar form well suitable for high-density integration with other microwave and millimeter-wave planar integrated circuits. SIW cruciform couplers are used as fundamental building blocks for their wide range of coupling factors and their specific topology well adapted to the serial feeding topology of a Nolen matrix. The network performances are investigated over a 500-MHz frequency bandwidth ranging from 12.25 to 12.75 GHz. The matrix definition based on SIW cruciform couplers is similar to its microstrip counterpart in terms of coupling factors and phase delays. The whole network is fabricated. Measured results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions, thus validating the proposed design concept. Using this matrix with a four radiating elements array antenna enables us to investigate the impact of the proposed matrix on the beam pointing angles versus frequency.

[1]  J. Blass,et al.  Multidirectional antenna - A new approach to stacked beams , 1960 .

[2]  J. Butler,et al.  Beam-forming matrix simplifies design of electronically scanned antennas , 1961 .

[3]  W. Rotman,et al.  Wide-angle microwave lens for line source applications , 1963 .

[4]  Peter Hall,et al.  Review of radio frequency beamforming techniques for scanned and multiple beam antennas , 1990 .

[5]  L. C. Godara,et al.  Applications Of Antenna Arrays To Mobile Communications, Part I: Performance Improvement, Feasibility, And System Considerations , 1997, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[6]  K. Wu,et al.  Integration and interconnect techniques of planar and non-planar structures for microwave and millimeter-wave circuits - current status and future trend , 2001, APMC 2001. 2001 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference (Cat. No.01TH8577).

[7]  K. Wu,et al.  Integrated microstrip and rectangular waveguide in planar form , 2001, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[8]  Ke Wu,et al.  Substrate integrated waveguide directional couplers , 2002 .

[9]  J. Hirokawa,et al.  A beam switching slot array with a 4-way Butler matrix installed in a single layer post-wall waveguide , 2002, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium (IEEE Cat. No.02CH37313).

[10]  Alessandro Toscano,et al.  A novel design method for Blass matrix beam-forming networks , 2002 .

[11]  J. Uher,et al.  Anik-F2 Ka-band transmit multibeam antenna , 2004, 2004 10th International Symposium on Antenna Technology and Applied Electromagnetics and URSI Conference.

[12]  W. Hong,et al.  A novel feeding technique for antipodal linearly tapered slot antenna array , 2005, IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, 2005..

[13]  Paul R. Young,et al.  W-band substrate integrated waveguide slot antenna , 2005 .

[14]  Wei Hong,et al.  Development of microwave antennas, components and subsystems based on SIW technology , 2005 .

[15]  Shaoqiu Xiao,et al.  A Novel Ka-band Wideband Slot Antenna for System-on-Package Application , 2008 .

[16]  Wei Hong,et al.  Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) Rotman Lens and Its Ka-Band Multibeam Array Antenna Applications , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[17]  I. Ohta,et al.  Reply to the Comments on “Super-Compact Substrate Integrated Waveguide Cruciform Directional Coupler” , 2007, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[18]  N. Fonseca,et al.  Printed S-Band 4 $\times$ 4 Nolen Matrix for Multiple Beam Antenna Applications , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[19]  Roberto Sorrentino,et al.  Flat array antenna for Ku-band mobile satellite terminals , 2009, Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP).