Monolithically Integrated Coaxial Resonator-Based Filtennas Using SLA Three-Dimensional Printing

Abstract

This letter reports on a new class of highly-miniaturized coaxial-resonator-based filtennas alongside a monolithic integration concept using digital additive manufacturing. The filtenna approach is based on the co-design of a coaxial cavity resonator and an annular slot antenna that collectively perform as a radiating resonating node within a coupled-resonator-based bandpass filter. Beam direction can be controlled by altering the position of the radiating slot. A stereolithography apparatus (SLA) monolithic integration concept is proposed for size compactness and reduced weight. For proof-of-concept validation purposes, first-, second-, and third-order filtennas were analyzed through electromagnetic simulations. Experimental validation was performed through the manufacturing and testing of a second-order top-slot filtenna, a second-order and a third-order side-slot filtenna with the following characteristics: center frequency: 4.75 GHz, 4.8 GHz and 4.6 GHz, fractional bandwidth: 7.4%, 8.3%, and 7.6% and realized gain: 5.5 dBi, 2.6 dBi, and 2.6 dBi.