Title :
An 8-element switched-beam array antenna for mobile satellite communications
Author :
Karmakar, N.C. ; Bialkowski, M.E.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Comput. Sci., Queensland Univ., St. Lucia, Qld., Australia
Abstract :
Conventional designs of phased array antennas for mobile satellite communications carry a high price tag. Hence antenna designers look for alternative low-cost solutions. In the paper, the design and development of a low-cost 8-element switched-beam array antenna is presented. The array elements are arranged in a circle on the side of a truncated cone whose inclination angle matches the satellite look angle. The heart of the system is a radial switch that activates two elements facing the satellite and deactivates the remaining six elements. In order to produce additional beams, each antenna element is equipped in a 1-bit phase shifter. The performance of individual sub-systems and the entire array is presented
Keywords :
UHF antennas; antenna phased arrays; antenna testing; conformal antennas; microstrip antenna arrays; mobile antennas; mobile satellite communication; semiconductor diodes; semiconductor switches; 1-bit phase shifter; 8-element switched-beam array antenna; L-band; UHF switching diodes; array elements; beamforming network; circle; conformal approach; coupled microstrip patch elements; inclination angle; mobile satellite communications; phased array antennas; radial switch; satellite look angle; subsystem performance; truncated cone; Antenna arrays; Australia; Communication switching; Feeds; Mobile antennas; Phase shifters; Phased arrays; Satellite antennas; Satellite communication; Switches;
Conference_Titel :
TENCON '98. 1998 IEEE Region 10 International Conference on Global Connectivity in Energy, Computer, Communication and Control
Conference_Location :
New Delhi
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-4886-9
DOI :
10.1109/TENCON.1998.798134
