A Beam Steering System Design based on Phased Array Antennas

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a low-cost, compact, beam-steering phased array antenna (PAA) system based on a novel approach to integrating low-cost, high-performance phased shifters with their controlling boards within an antenna structure. Consequently, the system has been reduced to one structure for the antenna array and integrated phase shifters, rather than the sophisticated PAA with two separate boards which are connected by RF coaxial cables. The system has been achieved by the following stages; Firstly, the steering vector weights matrix was calculated by MATLAB. Then, four elements of uniform linear Microstrip patch antenna array with their feeding network power divider were designed and simulated in the CST simulation program. As a result, a practical model has been implemented. The designed RF-PCB for the 4-bit phase shifters MAPS_010143 were integrated within the antenna panel. The system works at a resonance frequency of (2.4 GHz), with (±45°) steering capability. The results are presented for the three models. The practical results match the simulation results very closely, fence proving the accuracy of the model and demonstrating a highly effective design.