Novel antenna using substrate integrated waveguide for passive millimeter-wave focal plane array imaging

In this work, a novel planar high-gain antipodal linearly tapered slot antenna (ALTSA) using microstrip-to-substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) transition has been developed and demonstrated. The antenna is well designed to be feed element of an 8mm focal plane array (FPA) imaging system. A wideband SIW feeding structure is used for its implementation at mm-wave frequencies. The return loss of the proposed antenna is better than -12dB at Ka-band, meanwhile, the E-plane side lobe is almost 14dB low; which drops to 40dB down after being reflected by the parabolic antenna when placed on its focal plane. The array arrangement on focal plane is optimized for multiple overlapping beams to cover wider scene. Generally, there are good agreements between simulation and measurement results. The ALTSA antenna is an excellent candidate for passive millimeter-wave (PMMW) focal plane array imaging system.