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A digital SIW-slot antenna array with FPGA implementation of beamforming
Haitao Li1,2, Shanshan Li2, Bo Hou3,4
1School of Physical Science & Technology and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
Scientific Reports
|May 27, 2022
Summary
This study introduces a novel digital slot antenna using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology. The proposed electronically steerable antenna offers a lightweight, low-cost solution for 5G and satellite communications, enabling reconfigurable radiation patterns.
Area of Science:
- Electromagnetics and Wave Propagation
- Antenna Theory and Design
- Microwave Engineering
Background:
- Future satellite and 5G systems require antennas with low-cost, lightweight, and electronically steerable capabilities.
- Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) technology offers a planar solution for guiding and radiating microwaves.
- Existing antenna designs often lack the flexibility and digital control needed for advanced communication systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and demonstrate a digital slot antenna element based on SIW technology.
- To achieve reconfigurable radiation patterns for wide-angle scanning without complex phase shifters.
- To develop a lightweight and low-cost antenna solution suitable for modern communication platforms.
Main Methods:
- A digital SIW-slot antenna element was designed incorporating PIN diodes for switching between radiating and non-radiating states.
- Radial decoupling stubs were integrated into the bias line to minimize energy leakage within the SIW structure.
- An 8x4 array of these elements was fabricated and tested, controlled by tunable field-programmable gate array (FPGA) circuits.
Main Results:
- The fabricated SIW-slot antenna array demonstrated reconfigurable radiation patterns, validating the digital beamforming capability.
- The antenna array achieved a simulated gain of 15 dBi and a radiation efficiency of 53.5%.
- The proposed design offers advantages in terms of size and weight, with a digitalized control for beamforming.
Conclusions:
- The digital SIW-slot antenna array successfully provides electronically steerable beams with a programming-friendly interface.
- This design meets the demands for advanced antennas in satellite and 5G communication systems.
- The digital control of beamforming eliminates the need for heavy phase shifters, simplifying antenna array engineering.
