Efficient Formation of a 16x16 Aperture-Coupled, Series-Feed Array Antenna in the Ku Band

This paper explores the innovative design of a compact, high-gain, 16x16 array antenna operating within the Ku band, commonly used for satellite communication. Our antenna is the employment of a slot-coupled, series feeding technique. Unlike general serial feeding antennas that feed power from the edge portion, a symmetrical radiation pattern can be obtained by adopting a method of feeding power from the center portion. [1] This distinctive configuration facilitates the minimization of loss, promoting in-phase operation across all patch antennas. A cornerstone of our design process was the development of a compact power divider line, specifically tailored to support the architecture of the array antenna. The antenna, with overall dimensions of 250mm x 250mm, was subjected to rigorous simulation testing, yielding a maximum peak gain of 28dBi at 11.8 GHz. This work offers valuable insights into the optimization of array antenna design, potentially enhancing the performance of satellite communication systems.