Millimeter-wave phased-array antennas

Millimeter-wave band is the general trend for new communication, tracking radar and automotive systems. The crowd of RF frequency bands, the compactness of higher frequency radiating systems and the commercial availability of MMW components drive even more communications, tracking radars and automotive systems toward millimeter-wave band. Moreover, the antenna technology evolves from mechanical to full electronic systems and then phased-arrays are more and more widely employed for tracking radars and automotive systems. According to the general cost reduction trend, this paper describes some configuration of MMW phased-array antenna and presents theoretical and experimental results of a first demonstrator of passive phased-array designed in the frame of a research program funded by the Italian Minister of University and Science Research.