Circularly polarized phased array antenna element

A phased array antenna element which provides good circular polarization over a broad sector of coverage in an array environment has been designed and evaluated. The concept is the superposition of complementary antennas, the dipole, and the slot, to achieve equal - and -plane patterns in the array environment. This element, when evaluated in a large test array, demonstrated an ellipticity of less than dB over a coverage of degrees. By proper control of the excitation of the two isolated antennas any desired polarization can be achieved.