Ultra-Wideband Scanning Antenna Array With Rotman Lens

An ultra-wideband (6-18 GHz) phased-array antenna with a beam scanning angle of ±28° is proposed. A step-by-step design procedure consisting of beamforming network (BFN), end-launcher feed adapter, and the radiating element is presented. Microstrip Rotman lens has been designed to act as the BFN, and optimized to achieve minimum phase-error over the whole frequency range. In order to satisfy the condition needed for avoiding grating lobes, as well as achieving a wide radiation bandwidth and a high power handling capability, an E-plane double-ridged horn antenna is used as the radiating element. A novel wideband end-launcher coaxial to double-ridged waveguide transition has also been developed for connecting the BFN to the antenna array. Extensive optimization procedures have been applied to the end-launched adapter together with the antenna to achieve the best return loss over the frequency band of operation. The whole system has been simulated using CST full-wave simulator. An excellent agreement between the measurements of the fabricated system and the simulated results is observed.