Complementary split resonant ring inspired wide-angle frequency-scanning patch array leaky-wave antenna with open-stopband suppression

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, a wide-angle scanning and dual-linearly polarized leaky-wave antenna (LWA) is proposed based on symmetrical complementary split resonant ring (CSRR) feeding lines. The CSRR excites high-dispersed spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) and is inspired to enlarge the scanning angle of the circular patch array antenna. The coupling between CSRR and circular patch determines the unit cell dispersion characteristics of LWA, and the coupling between CSRR and circular patch is controlled by designing their respective periods, p/b, to suppress the open-stopband and reduce the grating lobe, The value of p/b controls the frequency range of the open-stopband. Two parallel CSRR feeding lines are located on the bottom layer of the antenna and feed the array antenna of 11 circular patches above the feeding layer with both differential and common modes excitations. The two modes switch with 1-bit phase shifters on the two parallel feeding lines fed with a Wilkinson power splitter and electronically switch dual-linearly polarized radiations. The proposed scenario of the LWA prototype is validated through simulations and experiments. According to the measurements, horizontally polarized radiation achieves large beam scanning angle from −59.5° to +40° in the frequency range from 8 to 11 GHz with common mode excitation. And vertically polarized radiation scanning the main beam from −47° to +41° in the frequency range from 7.8 to 10.8 GHz with differential-mode excitation. The measured peak gains of the two polarizations are 14.4 dBi and 14.2 dBi, respectively, and the cross-polarization ratios are above 21 dB.