Broadband Circularly Polarized Magnetoelectric Dipole Antenna and Array for K-Band and Ka-Band Satellite Communications

A circularly polarized (CP) magnetoelectric dipole (ME-dipole) antenna with a wide impedance bandwidth and 3 dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth is proposed. The antenna is fed by a microstrip line and coupled through a modified cross-slot on the ground plane. Based on the conventional linearly polarized (LP) ME-dipole, the proposed electric dipoles and the coupling slots are modified to generate the CP radiation. Simulated results of the antenna element show an impedance bandwidth of 72.8% from 16.35 to 35.08 GHz and a 3 dB AR bandwidth of 39.2% from 21.53 to 30.07 GHz. To enhance the gain of the antenna for practical application, a 4 x 4 antenna array with full-corporate feeding network is designed, fabricated, and measured. The measured results show that an impedance bandwidth of 66.95% from 17.26 to 34.63 GHz and a 3 dB AR bandwidth of 41.1% from 19.25 to 29.25 GHz are achieved. The proposed antenna can be applied to K-band, Ka-band satellite communications or fifth-generation (5G) millimeter wave (mmWave) communications at n257 (26.5-29.5 GHz) and n258 (24.25-27.5 GHz) bands.

Automated summary

A circularly polarized magnetoelectric dipole antenna with wide impedance bandwidth and 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth is proposed in this study. By modifying the conventional linearly polarized dipole, the CP radiation is generated, and the antenna performance is further improved with an antenna array. The antenna can be applied to K-band, Ka-band satellite communications, or 5G millimeter wave communications.