Design and Fabrication of Planar Sub-Array for Satellite Data Transmission Directive Conformal Array Antenna

Abstract

High-gain antennas are crucial for ensuring stable communication in imaging and remote sensing satellites due to their ability to support high data transmission rates while compensating for the limitations associated with increasing transmitter power or reducing transmission rates. Various antenna types, including electromechanical pointing structures, planar phased array antennas, and conformal phased array antennas, are employed for high-resolution image transmission and communication with ground stations. In satellite communication systems, small-gain omnidirectional antennas typically exhibit a significant gain of 15 dBi. Among these, the conical structure maximizes effective area, while the polyhedral pyramidal structure is also highly effective. An X-band patch antenna was designed and subjected to full-wave simulation using CST software to enhance performance. The designed antenna achieved a peak gain of 5.64 dBi at 8.45 GHz. The antenna array configuration includes eight patch antennas mounted on each face of a polyhedral array, with power distributed via an 8-way Wilkinson power divider. The resulting array achieved a gain of 14.3 dBi, by array theory principles. The construction of a polyhedral conformal array yielded a maximum gain of 18.3 dBi, with consistent gains exceeding 15 dBi for elevation angles beyond 30°. A high-gain circularly polarized array antenna was specifically engineered for satellite system applications, ensuring a robust and effective design and construction. A triangular planar array facilitates the development of various conformal array configurations, making it well-suited for satellite applications.

Keywords

• array antenna
• satellite
• high gain
• low profile
• microstrip ‎