In this paper, we propose a novel radial line planar phased array in which helical antenna elements are individually rotated by their respective connected micromotors to realize dynamic beam-scanning. To our knowledge, this is the first radial line planar array (RLPA) that has antenna elements electromechanically rotated by their individual micromotors. To facilitate its fabrication, helix and its probe are directly metallized on a plastic shaft using molded interconnect device technology, and a motor shaft is press-fitted into the plastic shaft. We also present a new design methodology for RLPA, which combines the equivalent circuit theory and electromagnetic simulations of the unit cell element. The proposed procedure is practical to design an RLPA of antenna elements with arbitrary probe shape without large-scale full-wave analysis of the whole structure of the RLPA. We design, fabricate, and evaluate a 7-circle array with 168 helical antenna elements fabricated using molded interconnect device technology. The prototype antenna exhibits dynamic and accurate beam-scanning performance. Furthermore, the prototype antenna exhibits a low reflection coefficient (less than -17dB) and high antenna efficiency (above 77%), which validates the proposed design methodology.

Shaped beam reflector antennas are widely used because they can achieve a shaped beam even with a single primary feed. Because coverage shapes depend on service areas, optimum primary radiators and reflector shapes are determined by the service areas. In this paper, we propose a simultaneous optimal design method of the primary radiator and reflector for the shaped beam antenna. Particle swarm optimization and the conjugate gradient method are adopted to optimize the primary radiator and reflector. The design method is applied to Japan coverage to verify its effectiveness.

We propose a wave analysis method for probe-fed Radial Line Planar Antennas (RLPAs) which yields an approximate solution for the aperture field distribution and scattering by loaded probes. Damping of electric power in the radial line due to radiation by antenna elements is included. The method can accommodate the effect of all conductors, including the terminating wall, by introducing the concept of equivalent posts. We have found good correspondence between the measured and calculated values of the aperture field distribution. The proposed method is effective for general geometries of probe-fed RLPAs.

The characteristic basis function method using improved primary characteristic basis functions (IP-CBFM) has been proposed as a technique for high-precision analysis of monostatic radar cross section (RCS) of a scattering field in a specific coordinate plane. IP-CBFM is a method which reduces the number of CBF necessary to express a current distribution by combining secondary CBF calculated for each block of the scatterer with the primary CBF to form a single improved primary CBF (IP-CBF). When the proposed technique was evaluated by calculating the monostatic RCS of a perfect electric conductor plate and cylinder, it was found that solutions corresponding well with analysis results from conventional CBFM can be obtained from small-scale matrix equations.

Simple approximate formulas are obtained for the mutual impedance and admittance by using a product of radiation patterns of antennas. The formulas come from a stationary expression of the reaction integral between two antennas where far-field approximations are employed. The theory deals with antennas in free space as well as under the presence of a wedge. Two applications are given for microstrip antennas with experimental verifications.

Slotted-waveguide array antennas are attractive because of their low-loss characteristics at high frequencies. Several types of slotted arrays whose polarization angles are inclined to the waveguide axis have been reported. In this paper, we propose a new type of slot array antenna on a rectangular coaxial line for minimizing the waveguide width. As opposed to a conventional waveguide, there is no “cut-off” concept in our proposal because the coaxial line is a transverse electromagnetic (TEM) line. Therefore it is possible to guide the wave even if the diameter of the line is much smaller than that of the waveguide. Moreover, the proposed antenna is a resonant slot array antenna that is based on standing-wave excitation and is thus different from traveling-wave antennas (such as a leaky coaxial cable (LCX)).