Phase-steered fixed beams in one and two-dimensional scan space for substrate-integrated radar and radio systems at 60 GHz

Abstract

In this work, one-dimensional (1D) and 2D scan phased array antennas for 60 GHz radio communication and radar sensing systems are proposed, studied and experimentally validated in the substrate-integrated waveguide technology. A linearly polarised phased array with 1D scanned beams in the first part of this study and a right-hand circularly polarised (CP) array with 2D scanned beams in the second part are presented and discussed in detail. In the demonstrated 1D phased array, dielectric rod antenna is used as radiating elements to form 1 × 4 linear array and then a planar Butler matrix is integrated along with the array to obtain phase-steered beams. In the 2D phased array, CP radiating elements are used to form 2 × 4 array and then a folded Butler matrix is used to feed the CP array. Simulated and measured characteristics of these two phased array antenna radiation parameters are compared. The proposed phased arrays can be integrated into 60 GHz and other millimetre-wave radar and radio systems as an integrated antenna front-end.