Broadband Microstrip Circuits, Antennas and Antenna Arrays For Mobile Satellite Communications

Qingyuan Wang, Broadband microstrip circuits, antennas, and antenna arrays for mobile satellite communications, Nov.
24, 2000
QINGYUAN WANG
Broadband microstrip circuits, antennas, and antenna arrays
for mobile satellite communications
Thse
prsente
la Facult des tudes suprieures
de lUniversit Laval
pour lobtention
du grade de Philosophia Doctor (Ph. D.)
Dpartement de gnie lectrique
et de gnie informatique
FACULT DES SCIENCES ET DE GNIE
UNIVERSIT LAVAL
QUBEC
AVRIL 2000
Qingyuan Wang, 2000
Qingyuan Wang, Broadband microstrip circuits, antennas, and antenna arrays for mobile satellite communications, Nov. 24, 2000
Contributions of the thesis
1. A rst-order transferring matrix of quarter-wavelength transmission line transformer
is derived and the analytical expression of the impedance of an optimized shunt half-
wavelength open stub obtained. This formula facilitates the design of such open stubs
for broadband circuits. A compound half-wavelength open stub, which is very useful in
broadband circuit design, is proposed using such a transferring matrix. The application
of such a matrix also leads to the criteria for broadband radial switch design.
2. The concept of a beam-forming network, a BeamController, which acts as a radial
switch as well as a one bit phase shifter in each channel, is proposed. The imple-
mented beam controller has good power delivering balance, as well as low insertion
loss, increased bandwidth, and good cross-channel isolation.
3. Afeed circuit for patch antennas with circular polarization is proposed. It is simple so
that its loss is limited and the gain of the patch antenna increased. The implemented
patch antenna also has increased bandwidths.
4. The concept of an electronically-scanned antenna array with quasi-hemispheric cov-
erage is proposed. The implemented array offers faster acquisition and tracking, lower
DC power consumption, robustness and low cost.
1. A transferring matrix of quarter-wavelength transmission
line transformer and its applications
The transferring matrix of a transmission line is [25]
, (2.1)
where is the length of the transmission line, its characteristic impedance, and its
wave number,
. (2.2)
l cos jZ
0
l sin
j
1
Z
0
------ l sin l cos
l Z
0

2f
c
---------
eff
=
For a quarter-wavelength transmission line,
, (2.3)
where is the center frequency. At a frequency away from , we have
and
(2.4)
and
. (2.5)
l
g
4
------
c
4
eff
f
0
------------------------ - = =
f
0
f f
0
l 1 f f
0
+ ( ) 2 =
l cos

2
---

2
---
f
f
0
------ +

cos

2
---
f
f
0
------
1
2
--- x = = =
sin l

2
---

2
---
f
f
0
------ +

sin

2
---
f
f
0
------

cos 1 = = =
Equations (2.4) and (2.5) are accurate to the rst order of . Using (2.4) and
(2.5) in (2.1), the transferring matrix of the quarter-wavelength transmission line is,
. (2.6)
x f f
0
=
1
2
--- x jZ
0
j
1
Z
0
------
1
2
--- x
1.1 An optimized shunt half-wavelength open stub
Figure 2.1 Broadband matching to a narrow-band circuit or antenna.
Using (2.6) for each quarter-wavelength transformer in Fig.2.1, we can obtain the Q-factor
of the whole circuit:
. (2.26)
Z
01
Z
l
Z
02
Z
t
Z
0
A
A
B
B
Q

2
---
Z
0
Z
02
---------
Z
l
Z
01
---------
Z
0
Z
l
------
Z
l
Z
0
------

+ =
The expression of the impedance of the shunt half-wavelength open stub is
. (2.27)
Figure 2.6 Return loss in dB vs. frequency in GHz for three kinds of matching.
Z
02
Z
0
Z
l
Z
01
---------
1
2
---
Z
0
Z
l
------
Z
l
Z
0
------

----------------------------------------------------- =
1 1. Quarter-wave-
length transformer
2. Shunt half-wave-
length open stub added
3. Three-point
compromise
technique
used
For all cases, , and feeding impedance 50 .
Case 1: a quarter-wavelength transformer of impedance of , Bandwidth is 55 MHz
for -24 dB return loss.
Case 2: a quarter-wavelength transformer of and a optimized shunt half-wavelength
open stub of . Bandwidth is 125 MHz for -24 dB return loss.
Case 3: a three point compromise technique was used. Bandwidth is 155 MHz for -24 dB
return loss.
Z
l
20 = Z
01
10 =
31.6
31.6
32.7
1.3 A compound half-wavelength microstrip open stub
Figure 2.1 A conventional and a compound half-wavelength open stub.
Using (2.6) for the compound half-wavelength microstrip open stub, we have
(2.29)
Z
01
Z
02
Z
e
Y
in2
jx
Z
01
Z
02
+
2Z
02
2
-------------------------- =
and the equivalent impedance of the compound open stub is:
. (2.30)
For 30 mil GIL 1000 substrates, , largest microstrip width is 3mm, smallest mi-
crostrip width is 0.17 mm, realizable impedance of a conventional half-wavelength open
stub is from , to .
For a compound open stub, realizable impedance of a half-wavelength open stub is from
, to .
Z
e
2Z
02
2
Z
01
Z
02
+
-------------------------- =
r
3.34 =
Z
l
35.2 = Z
h
130 =
Z
l
15.0 = Z
h
204.6 =
1.3 Broadband radial microstrip switches
The unit switching circuit used to form the radial switch:
Figure 3.1 Unit switching circuit used in the switch.
Z
s
Z
t
Diode
Z
02
Z
e
Z
l
High Low
impedance impedance
Bias
Circuit
Switch
Joint
The equivalent circuit of HSMP 4820 PIN diode
Figure 3.2 Equivalent circuit of a PIN diode.
Using (2.6) for each quarter-wavelength transformer in Fig.3.2, the Q-factor of the switch
is:
(3.9)
L L
L
C
d
R
Anode 1
Anode 2
Cathode
Q

4
-
1
1
m n ( )r
d
n r
d
Z
e
+ ( )
----------------- +
----------------------
Z
l
n +

nZ
l
Z
e
nZ
l
Z
e
------------------------------------
m n ( ) Z
s
nZ
e
+
nZ
e
-----------------------------
m n ( )r
d
2
Z
e
n
3 2
r
d
Z
e
+ ( )
2
------------------------
+ =
Broad bandwidth is achieved when the Q-factor in Equation (3.9) is small. Accordingly, we
can establish the following criteria for wide band switch design:
1. Large n or small m-n when mis xed. This is easy to understand because this case is tend-
ing towards matching a transmission line with n parallel transmission lines with quarter-
wavelength transformers.
2. Low impedance of the open stubs, . In Equation (3.9), we recognize that the contribu-
tion of the m-n closed channels to the Q-factor is represented by the second termin the large
bracket. Lowering , the Q-factor will be decreased.
3. High equivalent load impedance, . In the same large bracket in Equation (3.9), both
the second term and the rst term, which represent the contribution of the open channels
to the Q-factor, will decrease with increased , resulting in a wider bandwidth.
Z
s
Z
s
Z
e
n
Z
e
According to the design criteria, a broadband radial microstrip switch has been realized.
Figure 3.7 L-band microstrip switch with an effective load impedance of
under test.
50
Measured results:
Bandwidth: 1.525 GHz ~ 1.661 GHz
Maximum insertion loss: 0.50 dB
Maximum reection: -13.76 dB
Minimum isolation between feed port and a deactivated channel: 28.45 dB.
The results from a similar switch[24]
Bandwidth: 1.54 GHz ~ 1.66 GHz
Maximum reection: -10 dB
Minimum isolation between feed port and a deactivated channel: 15 dB
2. Beam controller for phased antenna arrays
2.1 Difculty in achieving good power-delivering balance in phased arrays with radial
switch and one bit phase shifters
Figure 4.2 Maximum power-delivering error vs. maximum return loss.
30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
-30 -20 -10
0
2
4
6
Maximum return loss (dB)
M
a
x
i
m
u
m

p
o
w
e
r

E
r
r
o
r
(
d
B
)
2.2 The concept of a beam controller
Figure 4.1 Transmission type phase-shifter used to form a beam controller.
Z
m0
Z
m Z
01
Z
01
Z
m1
Z
s
Z
02
Z
s
Z
s
Z
02
Z
p
PIN1
PIN2
PIN3
Z
l
Joint
(Center feed)
(Antenna)
2.3 Simulated return losses, insertion losses, phase differences, and input impedance:
Figure 4.5 Simulated results: (a) S-parameters in dB for a 010 beam, (b) S-
parameters in dB for a 011 beam, and (c) phase shift of a 1- and 0-channel for
a 010 beam. For the insertion losses, please refer to the right axis.
Figure 4.6 Real (left axis) and imaginary (right axis) parts of the input impedance in .
0
-20
-40
1.5 1.6 1.7
-4
-6
-8
-4
-6
-8
f(GHz)
Return loss
Isolation
Insertion
Insertion
Loss(0)
Loss(1)
0
-20
-40
1.5 1.6 1.7
-4
-6
-8
f(GHz)
Return loss
Isolation
Insertion
Insertion
Loss(0)
Loss(1)
200
0
1.5 1.6 1.7
-200
f(GHz)
1
0
(b)
(a) (c)
45
25
35
20
-20
0
1.5 1.6 1.7
f(GHz)
010
011
Imaginary
Real
2.4 A tuning circuit based on the optimized shunt half-wavelength open stubs and
compound half-wavelength microstrip open stubs
Figure 4.7 The tuning circuit.
Figure 4.8 Simulated results: (a) S-parameters in dB for 010 beam, (b) S-
parameters in dB for 011 beam. For all the insertion losses, please refer to the
right axis.
Z
t Z
0
Z
sb
Z
sa
Z
sa
Z
sb
Z
c1
Beam
Controller
Feed
0
-20
1.4 1.6 1.8
-4
-8
-12
f(GHz)
Return loss
Isolation
Insertion
Insertion
Loss(0)
Loss(1)
(a)
-40
0
-20
1.4 1.6 1.8
-4
-8
-12
f(GHz)
Return loss
Isolation
Insertion
Insertion
Loss(0)
Loss(1)
(b)
-40
Simulated results:
Maximum return loss: -15.81 dB

Worst power-delivering difference: 0.37 dB
Minimum isolation between the feed and a deactivated channel: 32 dB
Phase shifts at frequencies 1.525, 1.559, 1.593, 1.627, and 1.661 GHz: 93, 97, 102, 108
and 113 degrees, respectively.
2.5 Beam controller realization and measured results
Figure 4.9A photo of the beam controller and the tuning circuit.
Measured results:
Maximum overall insertion loss: 2.08 dB
Worst power-delivering difference: 0.92 dB
Minimum isolation between the feed and a deactivated channel: 28.53 dB
Phase differences at 1.525, 1.559, 1.593, 1.627, and 1.661 GHz: 103, 107, 114, 121,
and 124 degrees,, respectively.
3. A simple feed circuit for dual-feed antennas with circular
polarization and its application
3.1 The feed circuit
Figure 5.6 Simple dual-feed circuit for circular polarization.
The input impedances of the two feeds seen at the feeding point are
(5.8)
Antenna 1
Antenna 2
Quarter-wavelength
l
Z
in
Z
t
R
1
R
2
Z
in1
Z
t
R
1
iZ
t
tgl +
Z
t
iR
1
tgl +
-------------------------------- =
and
. (5.1)
The input impedance of the circuit is:
. (5.2)
From Section 4.1 we know that the power absorbed by each load is given by the relation
(5.3)
Z
in2
Z
t
R
2
iZ
t
ctgl +
Z
t
iR
2
ctgl +
----------------------------------- =
Z
in
1
2
---
R
1
R
2
tg
2
l +
1 tg
2
l +
---------------------------------- =
P
j
Re Y
inj
( )
where . From (5.8) and (5.9) we have
(5.4)
and
(5.5)
From (5.13), (5.14) and (5.12), we can easily obtain:
. (5.6)
j 1 or 2 =
R
e
Y
in1
( )
1
Z
t
-----
Z
t
R
1
R
1
Z
t
tg
2
l +
R
1
2
Z
t
2
tg
2
l +
---------------------------------------------- =
R
e
Y
in2
( )
1
Z
t
-----
Z
t
R
2
R
2
Z
t
ctg
2
l +
R
2
2
Z
t
2
ctg
2
l +
------------------------------------------------- =
P
1
P
2
=
The characteristics of the feed circuit:
1. The input impedance is always real, wherever the feeding point is on the quarter-wave-
length transformer. The input impedance is between the impedance of those of the two an-
tennas. It is easy to match it.
2. The power delivered into each antenna is equal.
The above characteristics enable us to choose the feed point and adjust the phase difference
between the polarized elds for circular polarization.
Three steps in the design of an antenna with circular polarization:
1. Convert the input impedances of two orthogonal feeds on a single antenna or on two sep-
arate antennas into real impedances and cancel their imaginary part, using an appropriate
circuit.
2. Connect the two feeds with a quarter-wavelength transformer. The impedance of the
transformer is the same as that of a transformer which would match the two feeds.
3. Feed the circuit at some point on the transformer. The location is chosen to create a phase
difference between the orthogonal elds, as close to as possible in the whole operation
band.
90
3.2 Patch antenna using the proposed feed circuit
Ensemble has been used to simulate the input impedance, radiation elds and radiation
pattern. According to the above design steps, a patch antenna with circular polarization is
designed.
Figure 5.1 A right-hand circular polarization patch antenna.
Top patch
Lower patch
Microstrip 1
Microstrip 4 Microstrip 3
Feed point
Microstrip 2
Simulated results:
Operation band: 1.525 GHz ~ 1.661 GHz
Maximum axial ratio: 3.35 dB
Minimum gain: 9.05 dB
3.3 Sample patch antenna realization
Figure 5.2 Electromagnetically-coupled patch antenna designed under the
guidance of the Ensemble simulations.
Table 1: Comparison between our antenna and a similar
antennna[12, 29]
Our antenna Similar antenna
Overall height 11.57 mm 17.36 mm
patch size 74.40 mmx74.40 mm diameter: 80.30 mm
Number of layers 2 5
Operation band 1.525 GHz~1.661 GHz 1.544 GHz~1.646 GHz
Maximum axial ratio 4.4 1 dB 3 dB
Gain 8.10 dB~9.36 dB ?~9.5 dB
Maximum feed reec-
tion
-19.52 dB -10 dB
4. An electronically-scanned antenna array with quasi-hemi-
spheric coverage
4.1 The pre-switch sub-circuit
.
Figure 6.3 A power pre-switch and a tuning circuit integrated together.
To sub-array
To No.9 channel
RF input
4.2 The congurations of the array
Figure 6.4 A global electronically-scanned antenna array prototype with quasi-
hemispherical coverage.
4.3 Comparison between our array with a similar arrays
Table 2: Comparison between our array and a similar array[12]
Our array Similar array
Overall height 120 mm 40 mm
Overall diameter 376 mm 460 mm
Number of components 26 diodes, 1 capacitor 84 diodes, 181 capacitors,
108 resistors
Operation band 1.525 GHz~1.661 GHz 1.54 GHz~1.66 GHz
Minimum gain 4.6 dB 8.7 dB ?
Maximum feed reection -14.5 dB -10 dB
Elevation angle coverage 20 to 90 degrees 30 to 70 degrees
4.4 Possible ways to increase the gain of the array
1. Using Patch 2A instead of Patch 3A.
2. Increasing the size of the lower substrate in each patch antenna to decrease the squint in
the radiation pattern.We found the radiation pattern of each patch antenna, when it is mount
on the array, is squint anti-clockwise. This causes the gain to decrease from011, to 010 and
to 110 beamcausing lower overall gain of the array. The reason for the squint beamis with
the lower substrate in each patch antenna, which has been cut to t the array. The sacrice
for this measure is an increase in the size of the array.
3. The third improvement we can make is through the use of a more rigid frame for the an-
tenna array to ensure a uniform inclination angle for each unit antenna.
In order to understand the array radiation pattern better, the mutual coupling between adja-
cent patch antennas in the array also needs to be considered.
Summary
In the work described in this thesis, we made efforts in the development of broadband mi-
crostrip circuits, antennas, and antenna arrays for mobile satellite communications. The
contribution of the thesis is mainly in the following 4 aspects:
1. A transferring matrix of quarter-wavelength transmission line transformers has been de-
veloped. Using such a matrix, we proposed an optimized shunt half-wavelength open stub
and a compound half-wavelength open stub, which are very important in broadband circuit
design. The application of such a matrix also led to the design of a broadband radial switch.
2. The concept of a beam-forming network, Beam Controller, which acts as a radial
switch as well as a one bit phase shifter in each channel of the switch, has been proposed
and implemented. The realized beam controller has low insertion loss, increased band-
width, good cross-channel isolation, and good power delivering balance.
3. A simple feed circuit for patch antennas with circular polarization has been proposed to
limit its loss and increase the gain of the patch antenna. The application of such a feed cir-
cuit also led to increased bandwidths of patch antennas. Patch antennas for our array appli-
cation was then designed, using such feed circuits.
4. The concept of an electronically-scanned antenna array with quasi-hemispheric coverage
has also been proposed and implemented, which can offer faster acquisition and tracking,
lower DC power consumption, robustness and low cost.
Acknowledgment
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Professor Michel Lecours, for giving me the
opportunity of studying here, for the excellent project on the design of the electronically-
scanned antenna arrays, for his guidance in each step of my design work, for his patience
shown in the revision of this thesis, and nally, for his encouragement and recommenda-
tion in my job hunt.
Thanks to Professor Gilles-Y Delisle for his supervision over my course work. Thanks to
Dr. Marcel Pelletier for his work on the conguration of the antenna array and his many
suggestions. The suggestions from Mr. Claude Vergnolle were very important in my
attempt to design microstrip switches, beam controllers and solid state ampliers. I thank
Dr. Martin Smith for his suggestions on the design of dual-band patch antennas with circu-
lar polarization. I thank Mr. Gilles Bisson for assembling most of my microstrip circuits
and antenna arrays. Also thanks to Mr. Mario Le Blanc for his suggestions in the solid
state amplier design.
My thanks also to the many colleagues at the different design stages of the mobile satellite
antenna array project: Pierre Lahaie, Tudor Breahna, Nathalie Robitaille, and Martin Lefe-
bvre.
I also would like to thank Laval University for providing me a free and tolerant academic
environment, in which I can concentrate in my study and design work and take some time
visiting the sceneries around the beautiful Quebec City.
We also gratefully acknowledge the nancial support of Davicom Technology Inc., the
NSERC Technological Partnership Program, and the Nortel Global External Research
Program.

Broadband Microstrip Circuits, Antennas and Antenna Arrays For Mobile Satellite Communications

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Descrizione originale:

Titolo originale

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Broadband Microstrip Circuits, Antennas and Antenna Arrays For Mobile Satellite Communications

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Qingyuan Wang, Broadband microstrip circuits, antennas, and antenna arrays for mobile satellite communications, Nov.

Maximum insertion loss: 0.85 dB

Potrebbero piacerti anche