Broadband high-efficiency linearly and circularly polarized active integrated antennas

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and measurements of two broadband high-efficiency active integrated antennas (AIAs) operating in linear polarization and circular polarization, respectively. A new design method is proposed for designing the broadband load network of the class-E power amplifier (PA), so that a high power-added efficiency (PAE) can be achieved over a broad bandwidth. A broadband high-efficiency class-E PA is designed based on the proposed method. The linearly polarized (LP) AIA is realized by integrating the broadband class-E PA with a broadband LP antenna, which uses a ring-slot coupled microstrip patch antenna. Then, the circularly polarized (CP) AIA is realized by integrating the broadband class-E PA with a broadband CP antenna, which uses a single-feed cross-slot-coupled microstrip patch antenna. Each antenna is designed for working as both a radiator and a harmonics-terminated load. A low-cost printed-circuit-board technology is employed in fabrication, and a p-high-electron mobility transistor is used. The PAE of the LP AIA is over 50% within a 14.6% bandwidth from 1.78 to 2.06 GHz, while the PAE of the CP AIA is over 50% within a 14% bandwidth from 1.92 to 2.21 GHz. The axial ratio of the CP AIA is below 3 dB over a 9% bandwidth from 1.99 to 2.18 GHz.