Wide-Angle Scanning Phased Array Antenna

A cross-shaped wide angle scanning array antenna is studied and presented. High impedance periodic structure (HIPS) is applied to ameliorate radiation pattern of the antenna element in an array. The HIPS could improve the beam-width of an active antenna element in the array. Then the wide-angle scanning performance of the phased array is extended. The gain of the array antenna is improved when the main beam scans at ± 60° both in the H-plane and E-plane. By the comparison to the metal ground plane, the gain of the array antenna with HIPS is 4dB higher in H-plane when the main beams are at ± 60°. And the gain of the array antenna with HIPS is 2.6dB higher in E-plane when the main beams are at - 60°. The main beams are more symmetrical when they are at ± 60° in E-plane. The cross-shaped wide scanning array antenna with periodic structure is fabricated and measured. The main beam of the array antenna scans up to ± 60° with high gain is achieved in the H-plane and E-plane respectively. The measured results of the array are in good agreement with the simulated results.