A Low-Profile Dual-Polarized High-Gain Low Cross-Polarization Phased Array for Ku-Band Satellite Communications

A low-profile dual-polarized shared-aperture phased array antenna is proposed for Ku-band satellite communications in this paper. The stacked octagonal patches loaded with Via-rings are proposed as dual-polarized shared-aperture radiation elements, with the characteristics of wide impedance bandwidt...

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Main Authors: Yuhan Huang, Jie Zhang, Xiuping Li, Zihang Qi, Fan Lu, Hua Jiang, Xin Xue, Hua Zhu, Xiaobin Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/13/3986
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author Yuhan Huang
Jie Zhang
Xiuping Li
Zihang Qi
Fan Lu
Hua Jiang
Xin Xue
Hua Zhu
Xiaobin Guo
author_facet Yuhan Huang
Jie Zhang
Xiuping Li
Zihang Qi
Fan Lu
Hua Jiang
Xin Xue
Hua Zhu
Xiaobin Guo
author_sort Yuhan Huang
collection DOAJ
description A low-profile dual-polarized shared-aperture phased array antenna is proposed for Ku-band satellite communications in this paper. The stacked octagonal patches loaded with Via-rings are proposed as dual-polarized shared-aperture radiation elements, with the characteristics of wide impedance bandwidth, high gain, and weak coupling. Furthermore, innovative minimized three-port ring couplers are utilized for the differential-fed antenna array, further suppressing the cross-polarization component. Substrate integrated coaxial line (SICL) and microstrip line (MS) feed networks are employed for the excitation of transmitting band (Tx) horizontal polarization and receiving band (Rx) vertical polarization, respectively. The non-uniform subarray architecture is optimized to minimize the sidelobe levels with the reduced number of transmitter and receiver (T/R) radio frequency phase-shifting modules. As proof-of-concept examples, 16 × 24 and 32 × 24 array antennas are demonstrated and fabricated. The measured impedance bandwidths of the proposed phased array antennas are around 21.1%, while the in-band isolations are above 36.7 dB. Gains up to 29 dBi and 32.4 dBi are performed by two prototypes separately. In addition, the T/R phase-shifting modules are utilized to validate the beam-scanning characteristic, which is of value for dynamic satellite communications.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1424-8220
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-2f62b588dac5440083c839df6a9729bb2025-08-20T03:50:17ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-06-012513398610.3390/s25133986A Low-Profile Dual-Polarized High-Gain Low Cross-Polarization Phased Array for Ku-Band Satellite CommunicationsYuhan Huang0Jie Zhang1Xiuping Li2Zihang Qi3Fan Lu4Hua Jiang5Xin Xue6Hua Zhu7Xiaobin Guo8Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, Beijing Engineering Research Center of EMC and Antenna Test Technology, Beijing 100094, ChinaBeijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, Beijing Engineering Research Center of EMC and Antenna Test Technology, Beijing 100094, ChinaSchool of Electronic Engineering, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, ChinaSchool of Electronic Engineering, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, ChinaBeijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, Beijing Engineering Research Center of EMC and Antenna Test Technology, Beijing 100094, ChinaBeijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, Beijing Engineering Research Center of EMC and Antenna Test Technology, Beijing 100094, ChinaBeijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, Beijing Engineering Research Center of EMC and Antenna Test Technology, Beijing 100094, ChinaKey Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaSchool of Electronic Engineering, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, ChinaA low-profile dual-polarized shared-aperture phased array antenna is proposed for Ku-band satellite communications in this paper. The stacked octagonal patches loaded with Via-rings are proposed as dual-polarized shared-aperture radiation elements, with the characteristics of wide impedance bandwidth, high gain, and weak coupling. Furthermore, innovative minimized three-port ring couplers are utilized for the differential-fed antenna array, further suppressing the cross-polarization component. Substrate integrated coaxial line (SICL) and microstrip line (MS) feed networks are employed for the excitation of transmitting band (Tx) horizontal polarization and receiving band (Rx) vertical polarization, respectively. The non-uniform subarray architecture is optimized to minimize the sidelobe levels with the reduced number of transmitter and receiver (T/R) radio frequency phase-shifting modules. As proof-of-concept examples, 16 × 24 and 32 × 24 array antennas are demonstrated and fabricated. The measured impedance bandwidths of the proposed phased array antennas are around 21.1%, while the in-band isolations are above 36.7 dB. Gains up to 29 dBi and 32.4 dBi are performed by two prototypes separately. In addition, the T/R phase-shifting modules are utilized to validate the beam-scanning characteristic, which is of value for dynamic satellite communications.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/13/3986dual-polarizedphased arrayKu-Band satellite communicationsshared-aperturenonuniform subarraydifferential-fed
spellingShingle Yuhan Huang
Jie Zhang
Xiuping Li
Zihang Qi
Fan Lu
Hua Jiang
Xin Xue
Hua Zhu
Xiaobin Guo
A Low-Profile Dual-Polarized High-Gain Low Cross-Polarization Phased Array for Ku-Band Satellite Communications
Sensors
dual-polarized
phased array
Ku-Band satellite communications
shared-aperture
nonuniform subarray
differential-fed
title A Low-Profile Dual-Polarized High-Gain Low Cross-Polarization Phased Array for Ku-Band Satellite Communications
title_full A Low-Profile Dual-Polarized High-Gain Low Cross-Polarization Phased Array for Ku-Band Satellite Communications
title_fullStr A Low-Profile Dual-Polarized High-Gain Low Cross-Polarization Phased Array for Ku-Band Satellite Communications
title_full_unstemmed A Low-Profile Dual-Polarized High-Gain Low Cross-Polarization Phased Array for Ku-Band Satellite Communications
title_short A Low-Profile Dual-Polarized High-Gain Low Cross-Polarization Phased Array for Ku-Band Satellite Communications
title_sort low profile dual polarized high gain low cross polarization phased array for ku band satellite communications
topic dual-polarized
phased array
Ku-Band satellite communications
shared-aperture
nonuniform subarray
differential-fed
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/13/3986
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