Ultrawideband, Wide-Angle Scanning Array With Compact, Single-Layer Feeding Network

Abstract

This article presents a single-polarization and ultrawideband tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA) with a compact, single-layer feeding network, and a superstrate layer for wide-angle scanning. The feeding network based on a microstrip-to-slotline structure can significantly reduce the size and complexity of the array. The superstrate layer consists of two frequency selective surfaces (FSSs), which can efficiently increase the scanning angle. The single-polarization TCDA has a bandwidth of 5.13:1 (0.75-3.85 GHz) with the simulated active VSWR <; 3 in an infinite array. The scanning angle of the TCDA reaches up to ±60° in all planes and ±70° in the E-plane and Dplane. The profile of the fabricated TCDA with 16 x 16 elements is only 0.12λ at the largest working wavelength. The measured results of a subset of the array are consistent with the simulated.