Performance of a Spherical Array Antenna Fabricated by Vacuum Forming Technique

In this paper, a spherical array antenna applicable to mobile satellite communications is discussed. The beam scanning characteristics of the directive gain of spherical and planar arrays are examined by computer simulation, and it is shown that the gain reduction of a spherical array is suppressed about 2 dB at a scan angle of 60° compared with that of a planar array. Mechanical and electrical performance of a vacuum formed hemispherical array is introduced. Experiment results show the feasibility of easily fabricated conformal arrays with good electrical performance.