SatCom on-the-move antenna with mechanically switchable circular polarization

This paper discusses on some of the design challenges of Ka-band Circularly-Polarized antenna arrays for Satcom on-the-move. The antenna put forward is composed by two transmit and two receive apertures providing Right-Hand and Left-Hand circular polarization. The antennas combine a series of novel contributions, from the use of Gap Waveguide technology to ensure good assembly between layers preventing leakage, to a thin broadband polarizer achieving the circular polarization required. Experimental results of reduced-size prototypes are presented.