TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimized corrugated tapered slot antenna for mm-wave applications
AU - Jarufe, Claudio
AU - Rodriguez, Rafael
AU - Tapia, Valeria
AU - Astudillo, Pablo
AU - Monasterio, David
AU - Molina, Rocio
AU - Mena, F. P.
AU - Reyes, Nicolas
AU - Bronfman, Leonardo
PY - 2018/3/1
Y1 - 2018/3/1
N2 - We present a novel approach to design a highperformance tapered slot antenna (TSA) at millimeter-wave frequencies. Commonly, TSAs are designed using profiles expressed as simple functions (linear, exponential, Fermi, or constant width). Some improvement can be achieved by the use of corrugations of fixed dimensions. This usual approach, however, gives little room for improvement in their performance. To overcome this situation, we have developed a new approach: The use of a nonspecific profile and variable corrugations along the antenna, both of which can be optimized to considerably improve its performance. For the optimization, we have used a particle-swarm algorithm allowing us to achieve an excellent performance in the entire W-band. To demonstrate the efficiency of this new approach, we have implemented an optimized antenna using standard printed circuit board (PCB)-prototyping methods. Across the whole W-band, the constructed antenna shows sidelobe levels, reflection coefficient, and cross polarization below-16,-10, and-25 dB, respectively. These results are in good agreement with simulations which also predict possible operation down to 60 GHz. Finally, given its small footprint and the fact that it has been fed by a microstrip line, this antenna can be used in compact electronics providing excellent performance such as that required in radio astronomy or telecommunications.
AB - We present a novel approach to design a highperformance tapered slot antenna (TSA) at millimeter-wave frequencies. Commonly, TSAs are designed using profiles expressed as simple functions (linear, exponential, Fermi, or constant width). Some improvement can be achieved by the use of corrugations of fixed dimensions. This usual approach, however, gives little room for improvement in their performance. To overcome this situation, we have developed a new approach: The use of a nonspecific profile and variable corrugations along the antenna, both of which can be optimized to considerably improve its performance. For the optimization, we have used a particle-swarm algorithm allowing us to achieve an excellent performance in the entire W-band. To demonstrate the efficiency of this new approach, we have implemented an optimized antenna using standard printed circuit board (PCB)-prototyping methods. Across the whole W-band, the constructed antenna shows sidelobe levels, reflection coefficient, and cross polarization below-16,-10, and-25 dB, respectively. These results are in good agreement with simulations which also predict possible operation down to 60 GHz. Finally, given its small footprint and the fact that it has been fed by a microstrip line, this antenna can be used in compact electronics providing excellent performance such as that required in radio astronomy or telecommunications.
KW - Active antennas
KW - Antenna arrays
KW - Microwave antennas
KW - Particle-swarm optimization (PSO)
KW - Slot antennas
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041000142&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/TAP.2018.2797534
DO - 10.1109/TAP.2018.2797534
M3 - Article
VL - 66
SP - 1227
EP - 1235
JO - IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
JF - IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
SN - 0018-926X
IS - 3
ER -