A Novel Methodology to Feed Phased Array Antennas

• Published in: IEEE transactions on antennas and propagation Vol. 55; no. 9; pp. 2489 - 2494
• Main Authors: Betancourt, D., del Rio Bocio, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.09.2007; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Antenna arrays; Antenna feeds; Antenna measurements; Antennas; Applied sciences; Beam forming network; Beam steering; Beams (radiation); Directive antennas; electronic scan; Exact sciences and technology; Linear antenna arrays; Methodology; Microstrip antenna arrays; Networks; Phase shifters; phased array; Phased arrays; Prototypes; Radiocommunications; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; electronic scan; phased array; Prototype; Antenna feeds; Yagi antenna; Phased array antenna; Antenna array; Beam forming network; Phase shifter; Beam forming
• ISSN: 0018-926X; 1558-2221
• DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2007.904133

A new methodology to design beam-forming networks (BFN) to feed antenna arrays is introduced. Using this methodology is feasible to reduce the complexity of the associate control of a phased array, since, an N by N antenna array could be controlled to steer the beam using four phase shifters instead of the N 2 conventionally used. A prototype was designed, built and measured as proof of concept. The prototype consists on 3 by 3 Quasi-Yagi antennas fed by four input-ports. The measurements show that the main beam of an antenna array fed by this BFN can be steered to any desired direction.