Low-cost planar MM-wave phased array antenna for use in mobile satellite (MSAT) platforms

In this paper, a compact 8×8 phased array antenna for mobile satellite (MSAT) devices is designed and investigated. 64-elements of 22 GHz patch antennas with coaxial-probe feeds have been used for the proposed planar design. The antenna is designed on a low-cost FR4 substrate with thickness, dielectric constant, and loss tangent of 0.8 mm, 4.3, and 0.025, respectively. The antenna exhibits good performance in terms of impedance-matching, gain and efficiency characteristics, even though it is designed using high loss substrate with compact dimension (Wsub×Lsub=55×55 mm2). The antenna has more than 23 dB realized gain and -0.8 dB radiation efficiency when its beam is tilted to 0° elevation. The center frequency of the designed array can be controlled by adjusting the values of the antenna parameters. Compared with the previous designs, the proposed planar phased array has the advantages of simple configuration, low-cost, low-profile, and easy fabrication. Simulations have been done to validate the feasibility of the proposed phased array antenna for MSAT applications.