Low-profile scalable phased array antenna at Ku-band for mobile satellite communications

This paper discusses the design of an 8×8 phased array antenna tile for Ku-band mobile satellite communications. The array has low-profile, high-gain, and wide-angle scanning properties. The design steps and electromagnetic analysis of a dual-polarized radiating antenna element and an 8×8 array tile comprised of these radiating elements are presented. The array structure makes it possible for satellite communication (SATCOM) terminals with compact sizes, because the whole front-end might be on the same multilayer printed circuit board (PCB). With a compact geometry and 25% bandwidth, the array promises an excellent performance for satellite communication applications. The radiation characteristics and other array parameters are evaluated with respect to the application requirements.