Compact Beam-Scanning Flat Array Based on Substrate-Integrated Waveguide

A compact beam-scanning flat antenna array with high gain based on the substrate- integrated waveguide (SIW) is presented in this article. The radiation elements are the continuous transverse stub (CTS) constructed by SIW, which are arrayed on the substrate. The SIW-CTS array has a 4 dB higher gain than the traditional CTS array with the metal parallel plate waveguide and the theoretical explanation is analyzed. A new compact corporate-feed network consisting of an SIW-horn and a flat lens is also proposed. The flat lens could convert the cylindrical wavefront generated by the feed probe and the SIW-horn to a planar wavefront for feeding the CTS array. The Taylor distribution of the feed level made the array has a low sidelobe and high gain. The beam scanning of the array could be realized by simply moving the small SIW-horn along the line across the focal point. An eight-element array is designed, simulated, and fabricated to verify the design. The measured results show that the scanning range is from -35° to 35° with the highest gain of being 20.6 dBi and the sidelobe level of -25.2 dB at the broadside.