Broadband matrix-type feeding networks for two-beam antennas with constant beamwidth and efficient aperture utilization

ABSTRACT

We report a novel approach for the design of a Butler matrix-type feeding network that allows for achieving two-beam antenna arrays in a very broad frequency range. The proposed solution is based on a 2 × 4 frequency-selective beamforming network which changes its frequency characteristics across the bandwidth. The utilized network features three different properties at three different frequencies. Therefore, such a network allows for achieving two-beam radiation pattern with similar beamwidths and beam directions over 3:1 bandwidth in conjunction with four broadband radiating elements. The presented concept has been verified by the design and measurements of a two-beam antenna array operating in 1–3 GHz frequency range.

KEYWORDS:

• Phased antenna arrays
• Butler matrices
• antenna feeding networks
• broadband antenna arrays

ORCID

Slawomir Gruszczynski http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0370-8640

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Centre Poland (Narodowe Centrum Nauki) contract no. DEC-2011/03/D/ST7/01783 and Dept. of Electronics AGH (under statutory research).

Notes on contributors

Kamil Staszek

Kamil Staszek received the MSc and PhD degrees in electronics engineering from the AGH University of Science and Technology, Cracow, Poland, in 2011 and 2015, respectively. He is currently with the Department of Electronics, AGH University of Science and Technology. His main research interests include multiport measurement techniques and design of the broadband passive components. He has coauthored more than 30 journals and more than 25 conference papers.

Szczepan Odrobina

Szczepan Odrobina received the BSc degree and MSc degree in electronics and telecommunications from AGH University of Science and Technology, Cracow, Poland, in 2015 and 2016, respectively. From 2015 to 2018 he was working in cooperation with the Microwave Technology and High Frequency Electronics Research Team, Department of Electronics, AGH UST. His research activity is focused mainly on RF and microwave measurement techniques. He has coauthored a few journal and conference scientific papers.

Krzysztof Wincza

Krzysztof Wincza received the MSc degree and the PhD degree in electronics and electrical engineering from the Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland, in 2003 and 2007, respectively. In 2007, he joined the Institute of Telecommunications, Teleinformatics and Acoustics, Wroclaw University of Technology. In 2009, he joined the Faculty of Electronics at AGH University of Science and Technology becoming an Assistant Professor. Dr Wincza was the recipient of The Youth Award presented at the 10th National Symposium of Radio Sciences (URSI) and the Young Scientist Grant awarded by the Foundation for Polish Science in 2001 and 2008, respectively. He has coauthored 42 journal and 56 conference scientific papers.

Slawomir Gruszczynski

Slawomir Gruszczynski received the MSc degree and the PhD degree in electronics and electrical engineering from the Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland, in 2001 and 2006, respectively. Since 2001 to 2006 he has been with Telecommunications Research Institute, Wroclaw Division. From 2005 to 2009, he worked at the Institute of Telecommunications, Teleinformatics and Acoustics, Wroclaw University of Technology. In 2009, he joined the Faculty of Informatics, Electronics and Telecommunications at AGH University of Science and Technology where he became a Head of the Department of Electronics in 2012. He has coauthored 42 journal and 56 conference scientific papers. He is a member of the IEEE, and a member of Young Scientists' Academy at Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) and Committee of Electronics and Telecommunications at Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN).