Development of electronically controlled array antenna system for ETS-VIII applications

In this paper, we propose a configuration of antenna system for mobile ground terminal using GPS and gyroscope terminal unit as automatic-navigation system to track the ETS-VIII satellite. To miniaturize the antenna system we introduce an electronically tracking rather than mechanically by use of a developed control program. With this configuration the antenna system becomes light and low profile with more in reliability and high-speed beam scanning possibility. In this research, a left hand circularly polarized array antenna integrated with an onboard switching circuit is proposed. Measured results of return loss, axial ratio, elevation cut pattern and beam switching performance are presented.