High-gain antenna with asymmetric flares

This work investigates the application of flares as a low-cost alternative for controlling the vertical beamwidth of a patch array antenna for S-band maritime radar applications. The use of flares reduces the number of array vertical elements needed to obtain the specified vertical beamwidth of the antenna and thus reducing the antenna cost. The optimal flare configuration has been found to be asymmetrical with the length of the top and bottom flare of 25 and 50 cm, respectively, and have an opening angle of 15° with respect to the antenna boresight.