Abstract:
Background With the rapid development of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications, there is a pressing need for circularly polarized phased arrays that offer wide-angle scanning capability while maintaining a low profile, which remains a significant challenge in current designs.
Purpose This study aims to design a low-profile, wide-beam circularly polarized antenna element and its corresponding wide-angle scanning array to address the limitations of narrow scan angles and high profiles in existing solutions.
Methods A double-layer antenna element was designed, utilizing corner perturbation and cross-slots to achieve left-hand circular polarization, while the beamwidth was broadened via an upper parasitic structure and metallic posts based on pattern superposition. A 4×4 array was constructed by rotating these elements, with annular open slots integrated into the ground plane to suppress mutual coupling.
Results The proposed antenna element exhibits a 3-dB axial ratio beamwidth greater than 175°, a gain beamwidth of 120°, and a profile of only 0.07λ0. Simulations of the 4×4 array demonstrate a scan coverage of ±60°, with axial ratio consistently below 2 dB and a stable gain fluctuation of 3.38 dB throughout the scanning range.
Conclusions The designed antenna and array effectively achieve wide-angle circularly polarized scanning with low profile and stable performance, offering a promising solution for LEO satellite communication terminals and other integrated systems requiring wide spatial coverage.
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