Connected-Slot Array with Artificial Dielectrics: A 6 to 15 GHz Dual-Pol Wide-Scan Prototype

In this work we report on the design, manufacturing and testing of a dual-polarized array of connected slots radiating in the presence of an artificial dielectric superstrate. The prototype array consists of 512 elements, i.e. 16×16 connected slots for each of the two polarizations. The antenna array is realized with a single multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB), which represents an advantage in terms of cost and complexity with respect to the typical configuration based on multiple vertically arranged PCBs. The performance is investigated in terms of simulated and measured matching characteristics and radiation patterns. The proposed structure achieves active voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) lower than 3.1 over about an octave bandwidth (6 to 15 GHz), within a wide scan range (±60° in the H-plane and ±80° in the E-plane).