Self-Deployable Circularly Polarized Phased Yagi–Uda Antenna Array Using 3-D Printing Technology for CubeSat Applications

This letter proposes a self-deployable circularly polarized (CP) stacked Yagi–Uda phased antenna array operating at
C
-band (5.6–6.0 GHz). The proposed antenna system is composed of a 2×2 stacked CP Yagi–Uda antenna array and feeding networks consisting of a reflection-type phase shifter and a four-way Gysel power divider. The proposed phased antenna array is integrated into the top side of a 1U (10
$ \times $
10
$ \times $
10 cm
³
) CubeSat via fully three-dimensional (3-D) printed self-deployable spring hinges and frame. The volume of the proposed antenna is reduced by 69% when folded, and the antenna deploys to the desired shape without any actuators or power. The designed reflection-type phase shifter has 0°–373° analog phase-shifting range and the four-way Gysel power divider feeds each of the 2
$ \times $
2 antenna array. The proposed self-deployable phased antenna array has 13.5 dBic left-handed circular polarized gain and +/−10° beam steering angle.