Scan blindness in one-layer microstrip antenna arrays

The article considers the problem of scan blindness in microstrip antenna arrays leading to the deterioration of radiation pattern for a range of scanning angles. The anticipated future wide implementation of integral antennas for mobile and fixed service communication systems with beamforming and MIMO capabilities requires the analysis of this problem and the means to combat it. Analysis of this problem and a method to determine blind scan angles are given as well as relationship between one-layer dielectric substrate parameters and element spacing is obtained and presented in the form of curves of maximum permissible scan angles.