Steerable Beam Array Antenna for Use in ATS-6 Test Program

Abstract

The design and development of an advanced L-Band microstrip phased array antenna for aircraft is described. The array is: Electronically steerable in elevation Conformal to the surface of an aircraft 0.20 inch thick Low cost fabrication technique Installed without cutting large holes in the aircraft Capable of 12 dB gain relative to a right hand circular isotope the development of the microstrip radiator, array configuration, diode phase shifter and the antenna control unit is described. The array design is considered in relation to the ground plane curvature, grating lobes, side lobes, beam shape and gain. Radiation pattern measurements of the full size antenna and scale model antennas on a scale model aircraft are presented. The design of simple loaded line and switched line phase shifters is reported. In addition, preliminary flight test performed from the ATS-6 satellite test program is presented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA030661

Entities

People

  • G. G. Sanford

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Airplanes
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Beam Steering
  • Circuit Boards
  • Circular Polarization
  • Commercial Aircraft
  • Composite Materials
  • Connectors
  • Control Panels
  • Fabrication
  • Measurement
  • Phased Arrays
  • Printed Circuit Boards
  • Printed Circuits
  • Radiation Patterns
  • Transmission Lines

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Phased Array Antenna Design.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Space