Ku-Band Antenna Array Concept with Stable Radiation Pattern Form and High-Level Harmonic Interference Filtering

The paper describes the design concept of a radiation surface for a flat-panel Ku-band antenna array including an extended fractional frequency band surpassing 10%. The concept is based on the optimal usage of microstrip elements (lines and exciters) with a mixed type of substrate: regular and suspended, as well as placing exciters in directions opposite to each other and antiphase feeding exciters. The analysis of the obtained curves was performed in the ANSYS EM Suite; a full three-dimensional simulation of the antenna array and calculation of its main characteristics were performed. Radiation patterns with the orientation of the maximum (main lobe) along the normal to the antenna plane with a side lobe level of no higher than −16 dB were obtained. At the same time, the directivity at the frequencies of the first harmonic is reduced to 40 dB relative to the maximum at the operating frequency of the antenna. The results presented are applicable for the design of antenna stations for satellite communications, radar systems and radio-relay systems (LOS communication repeaters).