A compact single layer monopulse microstrip antenna array

A compact single layer monopulse microstrip patch antenna array for the application of monopulse radar has been designed, manufactured and tested. The array, the monopulse comparator and the feed network are placed on the same layer, resulting in a very compact structure. The limitation of this structure is discussed. The effects of spurious radiation and blockage caused by the comparator on the sidelobe level are estimated. A space mapping (SM) technique is applied to design microstrip subarray. The bandwidth (VSWR<2) of the antenna is 5.6%, the operating frequency is between 13.85-15.1 GHz and the designed central frequency is 14.25 GHz. Our measurements show that, both for the E plane and for the H plane, the sidelobe levels of the sum pattern are less than -17 dB, and the null depths of the difference pattern are less than -30 dB. The maximum gain at the operating frequencies is 24.5 dBi.