SYNTHESIS OF LINEAR ARRAYS OF SERIES FED PROXIMITY-COUPLED MICROSTRIP ANTENNAS

This paper presents a synthesis of linear standing-wave arrays of microstrip antennas such as transverse dipoles, series-fed by a proximity coupled microstrip line. Each radiating element is characterized by its self-admittance and mutual coupling admittance. The self-admittance depends on geometrical parameters and on the nature of the substrate, while the mutual coupling admittance is related to the presence of the other radiating elements. These values are computed exactly using an integral equation technique combined with a two-port model of the element. The synthesis procedure is validated with measurements of the radiation pattern and a return loss of a 20-dipole array. The importance of mutual coupling in the design process is clearly demonstrated.