volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

This paper presents the novel theoretical design, CAD modeling, and performance analysis of a compact and reliable microwave beamforming network (MBFN) which has been developed based on the RF Rotman lens switched-beam steered array for operation in Ku frequency band. The objective of this investigation is to develop a passive beam steering microwave network device intended for the potential suitable use in satellite communications beam scanning electronically scanned arrays. A thorough Ku-band satellite microwave network system has been theoretically designed and simulated along with the analysis of its output RF characteristics. The antenna array feeding network is capable of multi-beams generation and wide-band operation in terms of the true-time-delay (TDD) and low dispersive properties in order to allow simultaneous operation of multiple RF beams. The Rotman lens demonstrates the potential appropriateness in order to develop a high-performance and well-established design for advanced satellite microwave systems, services, and devices.

1. Rotman, W. and R. Turner, "Wide-angle microwave lens for line source applications," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 11, Nov. 1963. Google Scholar

2. Rahimian, A. and A. Rahimian, "Enhanced RF steerable beam-forming networks based on Butler matrix and Rotman lens for ITS applications," IEEE Region 8 Int. Conf. Computational Technologies in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (SIBIRCON), 567-572, Jul. 2010. Google Scholar

3. Kushwah, R. P. S., P. K. Singhal, and P. C. Sharma, "Design of symmetric bootlace lens with gain analysis at UHF band," Progress In Electromagnetics Research Letters, Vol. 6, 83-89, 2009.
doi:10.2528/PIERL08122905 Google Scholar

4. Hall, P. S. and S. J. Vetterlein, "Review of radio frequency beam-forming techniques for scanned and multiple beam antennas," IEE Proc. H, Vol. 137, 293-303, Oct. 1990. Google Scholar

5. Weiss, S., "Low profile arrays with integrated beamformers," Proc. IEEE ICWITS, 1-4, Aug. 2010. Google Scholar

6. Dong, J. and A. I. Zaghloul, "Hybrid ray tracing method for microwave lens simulation," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 59, No. 10, 3786-3796, Oct. 2011.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2011.2163762 Google Scholar

7. Singhal, P. K., P. C. Sharma, and R. D. Gupta, "Rotman lens with equal height of array and feed contours," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag.,, Vol. 51, No. 8, 2048-2056, Aug. 2003.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2003.814742 Google Scholar

8. Penney, C., "Rotman lens design and simulation in software [application notes]," IEEE Microwave Mag., Vol. 9, No. 6, 138-139, Dec. 2008.
doi:10.1109/MMM.2008.929774 Google Scholar

9. Rahimian, A., "Microwave beamforming networks employing Rotman lenses and cascaded Butler matrices for automotive communications beam scanning electronically steered arrays," Microwaves, Radar and Remote Sensing Symp. (MRRS), 351-354, Aug. 2011.
doi:10.1109/MRRS.2011.6053671 Google Scholar

10. Weiss, S., S. Keller, and C. Ly, "Development of simple affordable beamformers for army platforms," GOMACTech | 07 Conf., Mar. 2006.
doi:10.1049/el.2011.3276 Google Scholar

11. Zhang, Y. and V. Fusco, "N-way switch based on Rotman lens," Electronics Lett., Vol. 48, No. 5, 270-271, Mar. 2012.
doi:10.1049/iet-map.2011.0379 Google Scholar

12. Zhang, Y., S. Christie, V. Fusco, R. Cahill, G. Goussetis, and D. Linton, "Reconfigurable beam forming using phase-aligned Rotman lens," IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propag., Vol. 6, No. 3, 326-330, Feb. 2012.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2009.2039331 Google Scholar

13. Lee, W., J. Kim, C. S. Cho, and Y. J. Yoon, "Beamforming lens antenna on a high resistivity silicon wafer for 60 GHz WPAN," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag.,, Vol. 58, No. 3, 706-713, Mar. 2010. Google Scholar

14. Simon, P. S., "Analysis and synthesis of Rotman lenses," 22nd AIAA Int. Communications Satellite Systems Conf. Exhibit., May 2004. Google Scholar

15. Rahimian, A., "Microwave beamforming networks for intelligent transportation systems," Intelligent Transportation Systems, 123-142, Ahmed Abdel-Rahim, Ed., InTech, Rijeka, 2012. Google Scholar

16. Maybell, M., "Ray structure method for coupling coefficient analysis of the two dimensional Rotman lens," Proc. Antennas Propag. Society Int. Symp., Vol. 19, 144-147, Jun. 1981.
doi:10.1002/mmce.20543 Google Scholar

17. Hussain, M. G. M. and A. S. Alzayed, "Beam-pattern synthesis using slotted Rotman lenses," Intl. J. RF Microwave Computer-Aided Eng., Vol. 21, 570-577, Sep. 2011. Google Scholar

18. Singhal, P. K., R. D. Gupta, and P. C. Sharma, "Recent trends in design and analysis of Rotman-type lens for multiple beamforming," Intl. J. RF Microwave Computer-Aided Eng., Vol. 8, 321-338, Jul. 1998.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2008.927567 Google Scholar

19. Cheng, Y. J., W. Hong, K. Wu, Z. Q. Kuai, C. Yu, J. X. Chen, J. Y. Zhou, and H. J. Tang, "Substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) Rotman lens and its Ka-band multibeam array antenna applications," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 56, No. 8, 2504-2513, Aug. 2008.
doi: --- Piped Query must contain either 9 (for journals) or 11 (for books/conference proceedings) pipes. Google Scholar

Mr. Ardavan Rahimian