Low-cost monopulse radial line slot antenna

Abstract

The authors propose the design of one radial line slot antenna with two simultaneous beams, one broadside beam and one conical beam. The antenna is a radial line slot antenna (RLSA), with the slots placed on the upper plate in concentric rings. The radiating element is a slot pair, designed for getting left hand circular polarization. The antenna has been designed to work in the range of 13.4 GHz and 14 GHz. Both beams are obtained independently through very simple excitation circuits, realized with microstrip technology. These feeding networks include a Butler Matrix Network. Comparing both radiation patterns, amplitude and phase, theta and phi angles of arrival direction can be obtained. This monopulse performance can be used to orientate the pencil beam for satellite communication antennas. Measurements for a first prototype are presented to validate the design.