Wide-Angle Scanning Low Profile Phased Array Antenna Based on a Novel Magnetic Dipole

A novel microstrip magnetic dipole antenna that can be applied to wide-angle scanning phased array antennas in both Eand H-planes is proposed. The proposed antenna has a low profile of 0.03λ
₀
(λ
₀
denotes the free-space wavelength corresponding to the center operating frequency), and a compact size of 0.32λ
₀
× 0.31λ
₀
. The half-power beamwidth of the proposed antenna with an infinite ground is about 180° in the E-plane and 85° in the H-plane, which has a large potential for wide-angle scanning phased array. When it is applied to phased array antennas, the scanning coverage is wide. The proposed planar phased arrays are fabricated and experimentally verified. The measured results show that the main beam can scan from -76° to 76° with 3-dB gain fluctuation in the E-plane and from -64° to 64° in the H-plane.