Wideband Phased Array Antenna For Millimeter Wave Communications
A wideband phased array antenna is provided. The wideband phased array antenna includes a plurality of antenna cells. Each of the antenna cells is configured to communicate over a frequency band ranging from 24 GHz to 52 GHz. Furthermore, one or more of the antenna cells includes a driven element and a parasitic element. The driven element is disposed on a first substrate that includes a first dielectric material. The parasitic element is disposed on a second substrate positioned relative to the first substrate such that a gap is defined between the first substrate and the second substrate. The second substrate includes a second dielectric material that is different than the first dielectric material.
1 . A wideband phased array antenna comprising:
a plurality of antenna cells, each of the plurality of antenna cells comprising:
a driven element disposed on a first substrate, the first substrate comprising a first dielectric material; and
a parasitic element disposed on a second substrate to provide a stacked patch topology, the second substrate comprising a second dielectric material, the second dielectric material being different than the first dielectric material.
2 . The wideband phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein, for each of the plurality of antenna cells, an area of the driven element is different from an area of the parasitic element.
3 . The wideband phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein, for each of the plurality of antenna cells, a cross-sectional area of the driven element is different from a cross-sectional of the parasitic element.
4 . The wideband phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the driven element of each of the plurality of antenna cells is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) source via a phase shifter circuit.
5 . The wideband phased array antenna of claim 4 , wherein the driven element of each of the plurality of antenna cells is coupled to the phase shifter circuit via a transmission line extending through an aperture defined by the first substrate.
6 . The wideband phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein, for each of the plurality of antenna cells:
the driven element comprises a first patch antenna; and
the parasitic element comprises a second patch antenna.
7 . The wideband phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein a scan range of the wideband phased array antenna in an azimuth plane is wider than a scan range of the wideband phased array antenna in an elevation plane.
8 . The wideband phased array antenna of claim 7 , wherein:
the scan range in the azimuth plane is about 100 degrees; and
the scan range in the elevation plane is about 30 degrees.
9 . The wideband phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein:
the first dielectric material comprises a first polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite; and
the second dielectric material comprises a second PTFE composite, the second PTFE composite being different than the first PTFE.
10 . The wideband phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antenna cells are configured to communicate over a frequency band ranging from 24 GHz to 52 GHz.
11 . An antenna system, comprising:
a wideband phased array antenna electrically coupled to a phase shifter circuit, the wideband phased array antenna comprising a plurality of antenna cells, each of the plurality of antenna cells comprising:
a driven element disposed on a first substrate, the first substrate comprising a first dielectric material; and
a parasitic element disposed on a second substrate to provide a stacked patch topology, the second substrate comprising a second dielectric material, the second dielectric material being different than the first dielectric material.
12 . The antenna system of claim 11 , wherein, for each of the plurality of antenna cells, an area of the driven element is different from an area of the parasitic element.
13 . The antenna system of claim 11 , wherein, for each of the plurality of antenna cells, a cross-sectional area of the driven element is different from a cross-sectional of the parasitic element.
14 . The antenna system of claim 11 , wherein the second substrate is thicker than the first substrate.
15 . The antenna system of claim 14 , wherein a ratio of a thickness of the second substrate to a thickness of the first substrate is about 2 .
16 . The antenna system of claim 11 , wherein:
the first dielectric material has a first permittivity; and
the second dielectric material has a second permittivity, the second permittivity being different than the first permittivity.
17 . The antenna system of claim 16 , wherein the first permittivity is greater than the second permittivity.
18 . The antenna system of claim 11 , wherein a bandwidth of the plurality of antenna cells is about 1400 megahertz.
19 . The antenna system of claim 11 , wherein a gain associated with a main lobe of a radiation pattern of the wideband phased array antenna in an azimuth plane is substantially the same as a gain associated with a main lobe of a radiation pattern of the wideband phased array antenna in an elevation plane.
20 . The antenna system of claim 11 , wherein, for each of the plurality of antenna cells:
the driven element comprises a first patch antenna; and
the parasitic element comprises a second patch antenna.