Low-cost multibeam phased array antenna for communications with GEO satellites

In this article, we have shown the development of a unique design concept in which a single planar array antenna consisting of N × M elements on a mobile earth station, such as a navy ship, will require only M phase shifters (for each beam) and one or two hard-wired squints to communicate with several GEO satellites simultaneously by generating multiple independent beams. Our simplified design enables a reduction in both the cost and the complexity of a PAA. This unique concept reduces complexity by requiring full scan capability only in the azimuth plane, thereby reducing the number of phase shifters from NM to M for each beam. At the same time, only one or two hard-wired squints are used in the elevation plane, further reducing the complexity and thus the cost of development of such a PAA.