60 GHz Planar Circular-Polarized Filtering Antenna and Its Integrated Design With Folded Reflectarray

The circular-polarized (CP) filtering antenna design based on the radiation-null-introducing technique emphasizes introducing specific filtering structures on the radiator or feeding structure. However, imperfect filtering structures are prone to generate radiation leakages toward nonboresight directions at the stopband, resulting in degraded filtering characteristics in the peak realized gain response. This article introduces two new CP filtering antennas operating at 60 GHz: one involves a single antenna element and the other involves a folded reflectarray antenna (FRA), both presenting an outstanding peak realized gain filtering response. A unique folded double-layer substrate-integrated-waveguide (SIW) feeding structure incorporated with a self-energy-bounding CP radiator is proposed for the antenna element. No filtering structure is needed in the radiator. The feeding structure, independent of the resonator cavity, inherently minimizes radiation leakages and can produce three radiation nulls, guaranteeing the desired filtering characteristic. The proposed CP filtering antenna element is then integrated with a folded metasurface to create a new CP filtering FRA. Both antennas feature high selectivity, ample stopband rejection, stable CP radiation in upper millimeter-wave (mmW) frequencies, and easy integration, making them suitable for 60-GHz communications and sensing systems applications.

I. Introduction

Circular-polarized (CP) antennas can significantly reduce the signal loss caused by the polarization mismatch, “Faraday rotation” effect [1], and multipath interferences [2], thereby acting a pivotal role in various wireless systems, such as navigation systems, radar and sensing systems, outdoor/indoor communications, and satellite communications. On the other hand, the filtering antenna [3], having both filter and antenna functions, is another attractive device that helps to improve the system efficiency and integration level.