Planar Fabry–Perot directive antenna: a simplified analysis by equivalent circuit approach

Abstract

A new approach is proposed for the analysis and design of a planar Fabry–Perot antenna. The complete modal analysis of the field into the cavity leads to a simplified equivalent circuit, able to provide a reliable description of the coupling with the feeding waveguide, as well as to compute the equivalent currents on the radiating apertures, thus obtaining the radiated far-field. The proposed approach is preliminary validated on a metallic Fabry–Perot antenna structure. Then, a modified configuration, based on a cavity partially-filled with a dielectric substrate, is assumed to obtain a Fabry–Perot antenna with improved bandwidth features. Experimental validations on array prototypes are successfully discussed.

Keywords:

• Fabry–Perot cavity
• antennas
• millimeter waves