A Novel Millimeter-Wave Dual-Fed Phased Array for Beam Steering

A novel beam-steering approach is presented based on the superposition of two squinted antenna beams. The two antenna beams are realized by exciting the opposite feeds of a dual-fed array antenna. A change in phase difference and amplitude ratio between the input signals, possibly using only one phase shifter and one variable gain amplifier, steers the main beam in different directions. Additionally, sum and difference patterns can be obtained using this concept, allowing for a monopulse operation with a broad peak or a deep null at broadside. Using this approach, beam nulls can also be steered toward interference directions, while keeping the shape and direction of the main beam unchanged. To verify the concept, a 77-GHz demonstrator using a linear patch array antenna and monolithic microwave integrated circuit in-phase/quadrature modulators has been designed and fabricated. The measurement results show a beam-scanning range of 16 degrees, well in accord with the simulation results.