Study on Wide-Angle Scanning Linear Phased Array

In order to improve the wide angle scanning performance of the phased array antennas, a wide beam microstrip antenna with metal walls is proposed in this letter. The beam-width of the proposed antenna element is broadened by the metal walls. The radiation pattern performance of the antenna element is improved. The operating band is from 3.1 to 4.4 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 34.7%. The HPBW of the E-and H-planes are 174 degrees and 112 degrees at 3.5 GHz. Furthermore, the wide beam antenna element is employed in a nine-element E-plane scanning linear array antenna, which is studied and presented. The main beams of the E-plane scanning linear array antenna can scan from -75 degrees to + 75 degrees in the frequency band at 3.5 GHz with a gain fluctuation less than 2 dB and a maximum sidelobe level (SLL) less than -5.8 dB. The E-plane scanning linear array antenna with nine elements are fabricated and tested. The measured results have a good agreement with the simulated results.