Wide-angle scanning cavity antenna element for mobile Satcom applications at Ka band

A novel dual linearly polarized cavity antenna with excellent scan performance up to 60° in both E- and H-plane is presented. The highly integrated antenna element for Ka band Satcom on the move applications is operating in the uplink band at 30 GHz. Vertical stubs incorporated into the 3-D architecture are proposed to compensate parasitic effects limiting the scan volume of planar phased array antennas. To verify this approach, the vertical transition used in the design, and the entire antenna structure in single element configuration were fabricated and measured successfully.

I. Introduction

The promising perspective to provide high data rate communications links for a large variety of end users have become one of the main driver for new generation satellite communication systems at Ka band [1]. In mobile scenarios, where the antenna terminal is typically deployed on highly dynamic platforms such as airplanes, the system architecture needs to be low profile and lightweight to minimize its impact on the mechanical structure. Moreover, the antenna system in mobile scenarios has to track the satellite constantly in order to guarantee the service availability while moving. As a consequence of the indicated mechanical constraints, electrically steerable antennas are preferred over mechanical ones.