Interleaved dual-band circularly polarized active array antenna for satellite communications

This paper describes the concept of a novel interleaved circularly polarized active array antenna for satellite communication applications at X-band. The array consists of two equilateral triangular patch arrays with hexagonal lattice, and each of them operates at different frequency bands. This presented interleaved array antenna can operate at dual frequency bands with independently beam steering capability when incorporated with phase shifters and MMICs, thus suitable for simultaneously transmitting or receiving in both user and feeder links for satellite on-board applications. The incorporation of MMIC GaN based high power amplifier to each radiating element is planned, to obtain high radiated power level by space combining from the multi-pixel active array antenna. Preliminary simulation results on the X-band GaN power amplifier are also presented in this paper.