Flat RF tiles for multiple band electrical steerable antennas
Flat RF tiles for multiple band electrical steerable antennas. To improve an antenna system for a communication between a vehicle and a satellite, a planar antenna array for multiple band satellite communication includes an array of flat RF tiles. Each RF tile includes a structure of antenna elements, wherein a first antenna element arrangement is configured to radiate in an uplink and downlink portion of a first satellite communication frequency band and a second antenna element arrangement is configured to radiate in an uplink and downlink portion of a second satellite communication frequency band.
1. A planar antenna array for multiple band satellite communication comprising an array of flat RF tiles, wherein each RF tile includes a structure of antenna elements comprising:
a first antenna element arrangement configured to radiate in an uplink portion TX and a downlink portion RX of a Ka-band; and
a second antenna element arrangement configured to radiate in an uplink portion TX and a downlink portion RX of a Ku-band,
wherein the first antenna element arrangement comprises at least one or a plurality of:
dual polarized first antenna elements;
cavity backed dipole elements;
a first dipole element with a first polarization;
a second dipole element with a second polarization;
a via fence formed by vias connected to a ground plane and arranged between first antenna elements of the first antenna arrangement and second antenna elements of the second antenna arrangement;
a ground plane formed by a metallization layer of the second antenna element arrangement;
a distribution layer between first antenna elements and a ground plane, wherein the distribution layer comprises a disc placed below the first antenna elements to increase a capacitance of the first antenna elements counteracting an inductance of the ground plane and an inductance of vias attached to the first antenna element;
vias for connecting each of a first and second dipole elements with a feeding point at a bottom of the RF tile; and
a balun formed by a first via connection connecting one dipole arm to a feeding point and a second via connection connecting another dipole arm to a ground plane.
2. The planar antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein the first antenna element arrangement is above the second antenna arrangement.
3. The planar antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein the first antenna element arrangements of the RF tiles form a first lattice that radiates at the Ka-band and the second antenna element arrangements of the RF tiles form a second lattice that radiates at the Ku-band.
4. A planar antenna array for multiple band satellite communication comprising an array of flat RF tiles, wherein each RF tile includes a structure of antenna elements comprising:
a first antenna element arrangement configured to radiate in an uplink portion TX and a downlink portion RX of a Ka-band; and
a second antenna element arrangement configured to radiate in an uplink portion TX and a downlink portion RX of a Ku-band, wherein the second antenna element arrangement comprises at least one or a plurality of:
dual polarized second antenna elements;
at least one slot antenna;
a first antenna slot with a first polarization;
a second antenna slot with a second polarization;
a metallization layer, in which at least one slot antenna is arranged, wherein the metallization layer is configured to act as a ground plane for first antenna elements of the first antenna element arrangement; and
a strip line below a slot antenna configured to couple radiation energy into a slot.
5. The planar antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein each RF tile comprises a plurality of unit cells having a rectangular structure with a maximum side length of 15 mm, or 10 mm.
6. A communication system for a vehicle or a ground terminal configured for a multiple band satellite communication, the communication system comprising at least one planar antenna array according to claim 1 .
7. An entertainment system for a vehicle, the entertainment system comprising a communication system of claim 6 .
8. An entertainment system for a vehicle, the entertainment system comprising at least one planar antenna array according to claim 1 .
9. An aircraft comprising the communication system according to claim 6 .
10. An aircraft comprising the entertainment system according to claim 7 .
11. An aircraft comprising the planar antenna array according to claim 1 .
12. The planar antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein the first antenna element arrangement comprises at least one dipole antenna.
13. The planar antenna array according to claim 4 , wherein the second antenna element arrangement comprises cavity backed slot antennas.
14. The planar antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein the first antenna element arrangement comprises two or more of:
dual polarized first antenna elements;
at least one dipole antenna;
cavity backed dipole elements;
a first dipole element with a first polarization;
a second dipole element with a second polarization;
a via fence formed by vias connected to a ground plane and arranged between first antenna elements of the first antenna arrangement and second antenna elements of the second antenna arrangement;
a ground plane formed by a metallization layer of the second antenna element arrangement;
a distribution layer between first antenna elements and a ground plane, wherein the distribution layer comprises a disc placed below the first antenna elements to increase a capacitance of the first antenna elements counteracting an inductance of the ground plane and an inductance of vias attached to the first antenna element;
vias for connecting each of a first and second dipole elements with a feeding point at a bottom of the RF tile; and
a balun formed by a first via connection connecting one dipole arm to a feeding point and a second via connection connecting another dipole arm to a ground plane.
15. The planar antenna array according to claim 14 , wherein the second antenna element arrangement comprises two or more of:
dual polarized second antenna elements;
at least one slot antenna;
cavity backed slot antennas;
a first antenna slot with a first polarization;
a second antenna slot with a second polarization;
a metallization layer in which at least one slot antenna is arranged and which is configured to act as a ground plane for first antenna elements of the first antenna element arrangement; and
a strip line below a slot antenna configured to couple radiation energy into a slot.
16. The planar antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein the second antenna element arrangement comprises two or more of:
dual polarized second antenna elements;
at least one slot antenna;
cavity backed slot antennas;
a first antenna slot with a first polarization;
a second antenna slot with a second polarization;
a metallization layer in which at least one slot antenna is arranged and which is configured to act as a ground plane for first antenna elements of the first antenna element arrangement; and
a strip line below a slot antenna configured to couple radiation energy into a slot.
17. The planar antenna array according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first antenna element arrangement comprises three or more of:
dual polarized first antenna elements;
at least one dipole antenna;
cavity backed dipole elements;
a first dipole element with a first polarization;
a second dipole element with a second polarization;
a via fence formed by vias connected to a ground plane and arranged between first antenna elements of the first antenna arrangement and second antenna elements of the second antenna arrangement;
a ground plane formed by a metallization layer of the second antenna element arrangement;
a distribution layer between first antenna elements and a ground plane, wherein the distribution layer comprises a disc placed below the first antenna elements to increase a capacitance of the first antenna elements counteracting an inductance of the ground plane and an inductance of vias attached to the first antenna element;
vias for connecting each of a first and second dipole elements with a feeding point at a bottom of the RF tile; and
a balun formed by a first via connection connecting one dipole arm to a feeding point and a second via connection connecting another dipole arm to a ground plane; and
the second antenna element arrangement comprises three or more of:
dual polarized second antenna elements;
at least one slot antenna;
cavity backed slot antennas;
a first antenna slot with a first polarization;
a second antenna slot with a second polarization;
a metallization layer, in which at least one slot antenna is arranged, wherein the metallization layer is configured to act as a ground plane for first antenna elements of the first antenna element arrangement; and
a strip line below a slot antenna configured to couple radiation energy into a slot.
18. A planar antenna array for multiple band satellite communication comprising an array of flat RF tiles, wherein each RF tile includes a structure of antenna elements comprising:
a first antenna element arrangement configured to radiate in an uplink portion TX and a downlink portion RX of a Ka-band, the first antenna element arrangement comprising:
dual polarized first antenna elements;
at least one dipole antenna;
cavity backed dipole elements;
a first dipole element with a first polarization;
a second dipole element with a second polarization;
a via fence formed by vias connected to a ground plane and arranged between first antenna elements of the first antenna arrangement and second antenna elements of the second antenna arrangement;
a ground plane formed by a metallization layer of the second antenna element arrangement;
a distribution layer between first antenna elements and a ground plane, wherein the distribution layer comprises a disc placed below the first antenna elements to increase a capacitance of the first antenna elements counteracting an inductance of the ground plane and an inductance of vias attached to the first antenna element;
vias for connecting each of a first and second dipole elements with a feeding point at a bottom of the RF tile; and
a balun formed by a first via connection connecting one dipole arm to a feeding point and a second via connection connecting another dipole arm to a ground plane; and
a second antenna element arrangement configured to radiate in an uplink portion TX and a downlink portion RX of a Ku-band, the second antenna element arrangement comprising:
dual polarized second antenna elements;
at least one slot antenna;
cavity backed slot antennas;
a first antenna slot with a first polarization;
a second antenna slot with a second polarization;
a metallization layer, in which at least one slot antenna is arranged, wherein the metallization layer is configured to act as a ground plane for first antenna elements of the first antenna element arrangement; and
a strip line below a slot antenna configured to couple radiation energy into a slot.
19. A planar antenna array for multiple band satellite communication comprising an array of flat RF tiles, wherein each RF tile includes a structure of antenna elements comprising:
a first antenna element arrangement configured to radiate in an uplink portion TX and a downlink portion RX of a Ka-band, the first antenna element arrangement comprising at least two of:
dual polarized first antenna elements;
at least one dipole antenna;
cavity backed dipole elements;
a first dipole element with a first polarization;
a second dipole element with a second polarization;
a via fence formed by vias connected to a ground plane and arranged between first antenna elements of the first antenna arrangement and second antenna elements of the second antenna arrangement;
a ground plane formed by a metallization layer of the second antenna element arrangement;
a distribution layer between first antenna elements and a ground plane, wherein the distribution layer comprises a disc placed below the first antenna elements to increase a capacitance of the first antenna elements counteracting an inductance of the ground plane and an inductance of vias attached to the first antenna element;
vias for connecting each of a first and second dipole elements with a feeding point at a bottom of the RF tile; and
a balun formed by a first via connection connecting one dipole arm to a feeding point and a second via connection connecting another dipole arm to a ground plane; and
a second antenna element arrangement configured to radiate in an uplink portion TX and a downlink portion RX of a Ku-band, the second antenna element arrangement comprising at least two of:
dual polarized second antenna elements;
at least one slot antenna;
cavity backed slot antennas;
a first antenna slot with a first polarization;
a second antenna slot with a second polarization;
a metallization layer, in which at least one slot antenna is arranged, wherein the metallization layer is configured to act as a ground plane for first antenna elements of the first antenna element arrangement; and
a strip line below a slot antenna configured to couple radiation energy into a slot;
wherein the first antenna element arrangement is above the second antenna arrangement;
wherein the first antenna element arrangements of the RF tiles form a first lattice that radiates at the Ka-band and the second antenna element arrangements of the RF tiles form a second lattice that radiates at the Ku-band; and
wherein each RF tile comprises a plurality of unit cells having a rectangular structure with a maximum side length of 15 mm, or 10 mm.