Standing-Wave Feeding for High-Gain Linear Dielectric Resonator Antenna (DRA) Array

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics and Antenna Engineering
• Microwave Engineering
• Materials Science (for 3D printing)

Background:

• Traditional feeding methods for dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) arrays often introduce significant losses and complexity.
• Achieving uniform excitation and high gain in DRA arrays is crucial for applications requiring efficient signal transmission.
• Existing techniques can be bulky and expensive, limiting their practical implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, simple, and cost-effective feeding method for linear DRA arrays.
• To demonstrate a feeding technique that maintains uniform excitation across array elements, minimizing losses.
• To validate the performance of the proposed feeding method through prototype DRA arrays.

Main Methods:

• Development of a feeding method utilizing discrete metallic patches to excite standing waves within the DRA array.
• Design and fabrication of two proof-of-concept linear DRA arrays (2-element and 4-element) using 3D printing.
• Characterization of array gain, radiation efficiency, and electrical size.

Main Results:

• Achieved high gains of 12 dBi for the 2-element array and 15 dBi for the 4-element array, nearing theoretical limits.
• Demonstrated exceptional radiation efficiency of approximately 93% for both arrays, matching element efficiency.
• The proposed 3D-printed arrays exhibited a smaller electrical size compared to state-of-the-art feeding techniques.

Conclusions:

• The novel feeding method provides a simple, compact, and inexpensive solution for high-performance DRA arrays.
• The technique effectively minimizes losses, resulting in high gain and radiation efficiency.
• 3D printing facilitates easy fabrication and alignment, making the design practical for various applications.