An Ultrathin Low-Profile Tightly Coupled Dipole Array Fed by Compact Zigzagging Baluns
In this paper, we propose for the first time a novel feed approach to a tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA). Firstly, compact zigzagging microstrip feedlines are utilized as baluns to feed our array elements to obtain wideband impedance-matching characteristics. Secondly, this array is designed on u...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | Electronics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/12/12/2752 |
| _version_ | 1797595135522897920 |
|---|---|
| author | Weiwei Wu Yuchen Yan Shaozhi Wang Yuhong Ma Naichang Yuan |
| author_facet | Weiwei Wu Yuchen Yan Shaozhi Wang Yuhong Ma Naichang Yuan |
| author_sort | Weiwei Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper, we propose for the first time a novel feed approach to a tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA). Firstly, compact zigzagging microstrip feedlines are utilized as baluns to feed our array elements to obtain wideband impedance-matching characteristics. Secondly, this array is designed on ultrathin substrates aiming at obtaining ultra-tight coupling between the dipole arms of two neighboring elements. Some irreplaceable parasitic pads are developed and added to the radiating arms to improve both the impedance and radiation characteristics of the TCDA. With these technologies, a 12 × 12 TCDA prototype is designed, fabricated and measured for verification. The array achieves an impressive impedance bandwidth spanning of 4–18 GHz for <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>S</mi><mrow><mn>11</mn></mrow></msub><mo><</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>10</mn><mo> </mo><mi>dB</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Its radiation patterns and realized gain are measured to verify its stable electromagnetic characteristics. Its realized gain is from 15 dB to 25 dB within the operating frequency band. Its efficiency is around 91%. Its measured results show good agreement with simulations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:32:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0424bf755984fbaa2d19a01ba965917 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-9292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:32:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Electronics |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0424bf755984fbaa2d19a01ba9659172023-11-18T10:10:04ZengMDPI AGElectronics2079-92922023-06-011212275210.3390/electronics12122752An Ultrathin Low-Profile Tightly Coupled Dipole Array Fed by Compact Zigzagging BalunsWeiwei Wu0Yuchen Yan1Shaozhi Wang2Yuhong Ma3Naichang Yuan4State Key Laboratory of Complex Electromagnetic Environment Effects on Electronics and Information System, School of Electronic Science, National University of Defense Technology, #109, Deya Road, Changsha 410073, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Complex Electromagnetic Environment Effects on Electronics and Information System, School of Electronic Science, National University of Defense Technology, #109, Deya Road, Changsha 410073, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Complex Electromagnetic Environment Effects on Electronics and Information System, School of Electronic Science, National University of Defense Technology, #109, Deya Road, Changsha 410073, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Complex Electromagnetic Environment Effects on Electronics and Information System, School of Electronic Science, National University of Defense Technology, #109, Deya Road, Changsha 410073, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Complex Electromagnetic Environment Effects on Electronics and Information System, School of Electronic Science, National University of Defense Technology, #109, Deya Road, Changsha 410073, ChinaIn this paper, we propose for the first time a novel feed approach to a tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA). Firstly, compact zigzagging microstrip feedlines are utilized as baluns to feed our array elements to obtain wideband impedance-matching characteristics. Secondly, this array is designed on ultrathin substrates aiming at obtaining ultra-tight coupling between the dipole arms of two neighboring elements. Some irreplaceable parasitic pads are developed and added to the radiating arms to improve both the impedance and radiation characteristics of the TCDA. With these technologies, a 12 × 12 TCDA prototype is designed, fabricated and measured for verification. The array achieves an impressive impedance bandwidth spanning of 4–18 GHz for <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>S</mi><mrow><mn>11</mn></mrow></msub><mo><</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>10</mn><mo> </mo><mi>dB</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Its radiation patterns and realized gain are measured to verify its stable electromagnetic characteristics. Its realized gain is from 15 dB to 25 dB within the operating frequency band. Its efficiency is around 91%. Its measured results show good agreement with simulations.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/12/12/2752phased arraystightly coupled arraysantenna feedsbalunimpedance matching |
| spellingShingle | Weiwei Wu Yuchen Yan Shaozhi Wang Yuhong Ma Naichang Yuan An Ultrathin Low-Profile Tightly Coupled Dipole Array Fed by Compact Zigzagging Baluns Electronics phased arrays tightly coupled arrays antenna feeds balun impedance matching |
| title | An Ultrathin Low-Profile Tightly Coupled Dipole Array Fed by Compact Zigzagging Baluns |
| title_full | An Ultrathin Low-Profile Tightly Coupled Dipole Array Fed by Compact Zigzagging Baluns |
| title_fullStr | An Ultrathin Low-Profile Tightly Coupled Dipole Array Fed by Compact Zigzagging Baluns |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Ultrathin Low-Profile Tightly Coupled Dipole Array Fed by Compact Zigzagging Baluns |
| title_short | An Ultrathin Low-Profile Tightly Coupled Dipole Array Fed by Compact Zigzagging Baluns |
| title_sort | ultrathin low profile tightly coupled dipole array fed by compact zigzagging baluns |
| topic | phased arrays tightly coupled arrays antenna feeds balun impedance matching |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/12/12/2752 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT weiweiwu anultrathinlowprofiletightlycoupleddipolearrayfedbycompactzigzaggingbaluns AT yuchenyan anultrathinlowprofiletightlycoupleddipolearrayfedbycompactzigzaggingbaluns AT shaozhiwang anultrathinlowprofiletightlycoupleddipolearrayfedbycompactzigzaggingbaluns AT yuhongma anultrathinlowprofiletightlycoupleddipolearrayfedbycompactzigzaggingbaluns AT naichangyuan anultrathinlowprofiletightlycoupleddipolearrayfedbycompactzigzaggingbaluns AT weiweiwu ultrathinlowprofiletightlycoupleddipolearrayfedbycompactzigzaggingbaluns AT yuchenyan ultrathinlowprofiletightlycoupleddipolearrayfedbycompactzigzaggingbaluns AT shaozhiwang ultrathinlowprofiletightlycoupleddipolearrayfedbycompactzigzaggingbaluns AT yuhongma ultrathinlowprofiletightlycoupleddipolearrayfedbycompactzigzaggingbaluns AT naichangyuan ultrathinlowprofiletightlycoupleddipolearrayfedbycompactzigzaggingbaluns |