A high efficiency slot array antenna with single layered gap waveguide feeding system for long-range wireless...

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics and Wave Propagation
• Antenna Theory and Design
• Microwave Engineering

Background:

• Traditional slot array antennas often face challenges with complexity, cost, and grating lobes.
• Gap waveguide (GW) technology offers a promising platform for high-frequency applications due to its full-metal nature and ease of fabrication.
• Developing efficient and scalable antennas is crucial for the advancement of long-range wireless and next-generation millimeter-wave systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel full-metal slot array antenna design.
• To leverage gap waveguide technology for improved antenna performance.
• To address limitations of conventional slot array antennas, such as complexity and grating lobes.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing H-plane horns as radiating slots.
• Implementing a pillbox feeding mechanism within gap waveguide technology.
• Employing an H-plane reflector to simplify the feeding network and avoid corporate feeds.
• Designing semi-horn-shaped radiating slots to mitigate grating lobe issues.

Main Results:

• The proposed antenna achieves high gain and directive radiation.
• The design exhibits low complexity and fabrication cost.
• The antenna demonstrates improved efficiency by resolving grating lobe issues.
• A fabricated prototype shows 60-90% overall efficiency over an 8% impedance bandwidth.
• A gain variation of only 2.5 dB was observed across the operating bandwidth.

Conclusions:

• The novel slot array antenna is a viable candidate for long-range wireless and millimeter-wave systems.
• The gap waveguide technology and proposed design features enable scalability for higher gains without added complexity.
• The fully metallic antenna offers high efficiency and a stable gain response, suitable for demanding applications.