A low-blockage dipole array reflector antenna feed for the lower microwave frequencies

An antenna is described which was devised as a feed for a small axisymmetrical paraboloid reflector at an operational frequency of just over 1 GHz. The antenna consists of a broadside array of two dipoles on a printed circuit board (PCB), joined by a common transmission line. Each dipole is backed by a small strip reflector. With this simple array, which has one central feed point, the -plane radiation pattern can be varied independently of the -plane pattern. In addition, the aperture blockage of the feed is small.