volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

A novel Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub (VICTS) antenna element and array model is proposed in this paper. The bandwidth and gain of the element are increased by adopting a linear-gradient stub, matching structure and rectangular grating slow-wave structure (SWS). A circular array can be obtained by arranging antenna units of different lengths linearly. The array antenna uses a bow-parabolic box antenna as the line source generator (LSG) and utilizes a double-layer transition waveguide structure to realize the propagation of planar wave. Finally, a wide range of beam scanning in the elevation plane was achieved. The results of the simulation and antenna prototype test are in good agreement. Showing the impedance matching characteristics of the antenna unit and array meets the engineering requirements in the range of 12~16 GHz. The maximum gain of the antenna array is 34.3 dBi, and the maximum 3 dB beamwidth is less than 10°. It is confirmed that the designed antenna has the characteristics of high gain, narrow beam, and low profile, and realizes two-dimensional beam scanning in the range of 6~79° in the elevation plane, which meets the requirements of the Satellite Communications On-the-Move system (SOTM).

1. Aguado-Agelet, F., A. E. Villa, M. Arias-Acuna, and F. J. Diaz-Otero, "AOCS requirements and practical limitations for high-speed communications on small satellites," International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Vol. 2019, 1-16, 2019.

2. Ssimbwa, J., B. Lim, J.-H. Lee, and Y.-C. Ko, "A survey on robust modulation requirements for the next generation personal satellite communications," Frontiers in Communications and Networks, Vol. 3, 2022.

3. Liu, T., C. H. Sun, and Y. S. Zhang, "Load balancing routing algorithm of low-orbit communication satellite network traffic based on machine learning," Wireless Communications & Mobile Computing, Vol. 2021, 2021.

4. Yuan, D., Y. Y. Qin, Z. W. Wu, and X. W. Shen, "An emergency positioning system fusing GEO satellite doppler observation and INS for SOTM," IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. 70, 2021.

5. Pearson, R. A., J. Vazquez, and M. W. Shelley, "Next generation mobile SATCOM terminal antennas for a transformed world," European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, 2341-2345, 2011.

6. Torabi, Y., G. Dadashzadeh, A. Lalbakhsh, and H. Oraizi, "High-gain and low-profile dielectric-image-line leaky-wave-antenna for wide-angle beam scanning at sub-THz frequencies," Optics and Laser Technology, Vol. 150, 2022.

7. Johnson, R. C. and H. Jasik, Antenna Engineering Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1984.

8. Wang, K., X. Lei, J. Gao, T. Li, S. Tian, and M. Zhao, "A low-sidelobe-level variable inclination continuous transverse stub antenna with a nonlinear slow-wave structure," International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 2021, 1-10, 2021.

9. Wei, M., J. Liu, H. X. Li, and S. Y. Liu, "Design of a variable inclination continuous transverse stub array," 12th International Symposium on Antennas, Propagation and Electromagnetic Theory (ISAPE), Hangzhou, 2018.

10. Yan, L., W. Hong, G. Hua, J. X. Chen, K. Wu, and T. J. Cui, "Simulation and experiment on SIW slot array antennas," IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, Vol. 14, No. 9, 446-448, 2004.

11. Henderson, W. H. and W. W. Milroy, "Wireless communication applications of the continuous transverse stub (CTS) array at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies," IEEE/ACES International Conference on Wireless Communications and Applied Computational Electromagnetics, 253-256, Honolulu, 2005.

12. Kim, W., M. F. Iskander, and W. D. Palmer, "An integrated phased array antenna design using ferroelectric materials and the continuous transverse stub technology," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 54, No. 11, 3095-3105, 2006.

13. Milroy, W. W., S. B. Coppedge, and A. C. Lemons, "Variable inclination continuous transverse stub array," US Patent, 6919854B2, 2005.

14. Milroy, W. W., "The continuous transverse stub (CTS) array: Basic theory, experiment, and application," Proceedings of the Antenna Applications Symposium, 252-283, 2005.

15. Hao, R. S., Y. J. Cheng, and Y. F. Wu, "Shared-aperture variable inclination continuous transverse stub antenna working at K- and Ka-bands for mobile satellite communication," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 68, No. 9, 6656-6666, 2020.

16. Gao, J., X. Lei, J. Wu, and T. Li, "Theoretical model for patterns of VICTS antenna," IEEE 17th International Conference on Communication Technology (ICCT), 728-731, Chengdu, China, 2017.

17. Wang, K., X. Lei, J. Gao, T. Li, and M. Zhao, "A low-sidelobe-level variable inclination continuous transverse stub antenna with two-types stubs," 2021 IEEE 4th Advanced Information Management, Communicates, Electronic and Automation Control Conference (IMCEC), Chongqing, China, 2021.

18. Wang, K., X. Lei, J. Gao, T. P. Li, and M. Y. Zhao, "A low-sidelobe-level variable inclination continuous transverse stub antenna with two-types stubs," 2021 IEEE 4th Advanced Information Management, Communicates, Electronic and Automation Control Conference (IMCEC), Vol. 4, 1554-1558, 2021.

19. Gao, J., X. Lei, G. H. Chen, Y. Zhang, and J. M.Wu, "Design of the variable inclination continuous transverse stub antenna based on rectangular grating slow-wave structure," International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 2018, No. 1, ID5793535, 2018.

20. Porter, B. G., "Closed form expression for antenna patterns of the variable inclination continuous transverse stub," IEEE International Symposium on PAST, 164-169, 2010.

21. Lu, X., S. Gu, X. Wang, H. Liu, and W. Lu, "Beam-scanning continuous transverse stub antenna fed by a ridged waveguide slot array," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 16, 1675-1678, 2017.

22. Karim, T., H. Jiro, S. Ronan, and A. Makoto, "Wideband and large coverage continuous beam steering antenna in the 60-GHz band," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 65, No. 9, 4418-4426, 2017.

Dr. Jie Liu

Prof. Shufu Dong

Prof. Qiu-Rong Zheng

Dr. Jiayu Yu

Dr. Fei Xu