Planar Dual-Circular Polarized 2×2 Sub-Array For SATCOM Reception in Ka-Band

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a planar 2×2 sub-array antenna for satellite communication receiver applications in the Ka-band. The unit element of the sub-array is a aperture-coupled square patch designed to operate in the 19.2GHz - 21.2GHz frequency band. Each element support dual-circular polarization, enabling simultaneous reception of Left-Hand Circularly Polarized (LHCP) and Right-Hand Circularly Polarized (RHCP) signals. The multi-layered structure realized using conventional 10-layered printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication technology, allows for the integration of the planar hybrid coupler within the unit element as well as the integration of a 4-way reactive power combiner within the 2×2 sub-array. The return loss and the pattern measurements validate the full-wave electromangetic simulation-assisted design and shows the sub-array’s suitability use in larger antenna array for in satellite communication receivers in the Ka-band.