An Efficient Decoupling Feeding Network for Microstrip Antenna Array

Abstract

An efficient decoupling feeding network is proposed in this letter. It is composed of two directional couplers and two sections of transmission line for connection use. By connecting the two couplers, an indirect coupling with controlled magnitude and phase is introduced, which can be used to cancel out the direct coupling caused by space waves and surface waves between array elements. To demonstrate the method, a two-element microstrip antenna array with the proposed network has been designed, fabricated and measured. Both simulated and measured results have simultaneously proved that the proposed method presents excellent decoupling performance. The measured mutual coupling can be reduced to below <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$-58 ~\hbox{dB}$</tex></formula> at center frequency. Meanwhile it has little influence on return loss and radiation patterns. The decoupling mechanism is simple and straightforward which can be easily applied in phased array antennas and MIMO systems.