An AESA Antenna Comprising an RF Feeding Network With Strongly Coupled Antenna Ports

Author

Pamies Porras, Mariano Javier ; Bertuch, Thomas ; Loecker, Claudius ; Adams, Rene ; Wunderlich, Ralf ; Heinen, Stefan

Author_Institution

Dept. of Antenna Technol. & Electromagn. Modelling, Fraunhofer Inst. for High Freq. Phys. & Radar Tech. (Fraunhofer FHR), Wachtberg, Germany

Volume

63

Issue

1

fYear

2015

fDate

Jan. 2015

Firstpage

182

Lastpage

194

Abstract

This paper presents an S-band AESA antenna with inexpensive T/R-modules and a novel RF feeding network operation technique. The antenna ports of the front-end´s feeding network have no isolation mechanisms, which can be problematic in case of not well matched T/R-modules. However, a novel operation is proposed, and the issue is overcome. A system demonstrator is presented, proving: the novel feeding network operation, the low-cost T/R-module approach and the electronic scanning capabilities of the front-end. This low-cost architecture can enable the use of phased-array technology for civil applications like maritime navigation radar.

Keywords

active antenna arrays; antenna feeds; antenna phased arrays; receiving antennas; transmitting antennas; RF feeding network operation technique; S-band AESA antenna; T/R-modules; active electronically steered array; civil applications; electronic scanning capabilities; front-end feeding network; maritime navigation radar; phased-array technology; strongly coupled antenna ports; Antenna arrays; Antenna feeds; Apertures; Ports (Computers); Probes; Radar; Radar antennas; Active arrays; feeds; phased array radar; phased arrays; radar navigation;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-926X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TAP.2014.2368575

Filename

6949668