volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

A compact exponentially tapered balanced antipodal Vivaldi antenna for Phased array systems is proposed in this paper. The proposed design implements slots at the edges to improve impedance bandwidth typically at lower frequencies. The antenna is coupled to a 50 Ω microstrip line between the signal conductors of the middle layer and ground plane. A detailed parametric analysis has been carried out to determine the optimized dimensions and to achieve desired antenna performance. A prototype of the antenna (56×28×1.6 mm³) was fabricated and measured to validate the simulation results. It is revealed that the antenna has a wide impedance bandwidth of 120% over 5-20 GHz and measured gain of the antenna increases from 2.6 dB to 8.0 dB in the whole operational frequency band. The small aperture width which is typically 28 mm is the attractive feature of the proposed design. Therefore, compact size, high gain, ultrawide bandwidth, and directional radiation characteristics of the proposed design may be suitable for advance radar systems.

1. ShahzadSadiq, M., M. W. Niaz, S. Zheng, and L. Zhao, "Equal beamwidth and low sidelobe mm-wave horn antenna," 2018 Asia Pacic Microwave Conference (APMC), 1579-1581, Kyoto, Japan, 2018.

2. Serhir, M. and D. Lesselier, "Wideband reflector-backed folded bowtie antenna for ground penetrating radar," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 66, No. 3, 1056-1063, 2018.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2017.2786295

3. Elsherbini, A. and K. Sarabandi, "Compact directive ultra-wideband rectangular waveguide based antenna for radar and communication applications," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 65, No. 5, 2203-2209, 2012.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2012.2189727

4. Guo, J., J. Tong, Q. Zhao, J. Jiao, J. Huo, and C. Ma, "An ultrawide band antipodal Vivaldi antenna for airborne GPR application," IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, Vol. 16, No. 10, 1560-1564, 2019.
doi:10.1109/LGRS.2019.2905013

5. Wang, N., M. Fang, Z. Qiu, and L. Xiao, "Improved design of balanced antipodal Vivaldi for MMW applications," 2017 IEEE International Symposium on Antenna and Propagation & UNSC/URSI National Radio Science Meeting, 2615-2616, San Diego, CA, USA, 2017.

6. Bourqui, J., M. Okoniewski, and C. Elise Fear, "Balanced antipodal Vivaldi antenna with dielectric director for near-field microwave imaging," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 58, No. 7, 2318-2326, 2010.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2010.2048844

7. Wang, N.-N., M. Fang, H.-T. Chou, J.-R. Qi, and L.-Y. Xiao, "Balanced antipodal Vivaldi antenna with asymmetric substrate cutout and dual-scale slotted edges for ultra-wideband operation at millimeter-wave frequencies," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 66, No. 7, 3724-3729, 2018.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2018.2820422

8. Natarajan, R., J. V. George, M. Kanagasabai, and A. K. Shrivastav, "A compact antipodal Vivaldi antenna for UWB applications," IEEEAntennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 14, 1557-1560, 2015.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2015.2412255

9. Geng, D., D. Yang, H. Xiao, Y. Chen, and J. Pan, "A novel miniaturized vivaldi antenna for ultra-wideband applications," Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, Vol. 77, 123-131, 2017.
doi:10.2528/PIERC17071605

10. Moosazadeh, M. and S. Kharkovsky, "A compact high-gain and front-to-back ratio elliptically tapered antipodal Vivaldi antenna with trapezoid-shaped dielectric lens," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 15, 552-555, 2016.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2015.2457919

11. Teni, G., N. Zhang, J. Qiu, and P. Zhang, "Research on a novel miniaturized antipodal Vivaldi antenna with improved radiation," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 12, 417-420, 2013.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2013.2253592

12. Oliveira, A. M. D., M. B. Perotoni, S. T. Kofuji, and J. F. Justo, "A palm tree antipodal Vivaldi antenna with exponential slot edge for improved radiation pattern," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 14, 1334-1337, 2015.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2015.2404875

13. Yin, Z. F., X. X. Yang, and T. Lou, "A high gain UWB Vivaldi antenna loaded with elliptical slots," 2018 International Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society Symposium(ACES), 1-4, Beijing, China, 2019.

Dr. Kambham Premchand

Dr. Harikrishna Paik

Dr. Shailendra Kumar Mishra