Circularly Polarized Beam-Switching Antenna Array Design for Directional Networks

For modern directional communication networks, there is a significant and growing need for advanced antenna array designs that combine the high gain and broadband performance together with the low-cost and lightweight characteristics. In this letter, the beam-switching characteristics of a new 4 × 8 right-hand circularly polarized long slot antenna (LSA) array were analyzed when fed by an 8 × 8 Butler matrix. The radiation characteristics were analyzed in terms of bandwidth, beamwidth, gain, cross polarization (x-pol), and axial ratio. Stable radiation patterns were obtained when the main beam directions were within the ±30° angle. The beam-switching LSA array has measured gain of 13.5 dBic and beamwidth of 15° with x-pol greater than 10 dB and axial ratio less than 6 dB. Comparative results with a 4 × 8 stacked patch antenna array are also included for reference.