Dual-band dual-polarized perforated microstrip antennas for SAR applications

For dual-band dual-polarized synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications a compact low-profile design is investigated. The operating frequencies are in the L and C-bands, centered about 1.275 and 5.3 GHz, respectively. Since the C-band frequency is larger by a factor of four, its array elements and inter-element separations are smaller by the same ratio. Thus, to allow similar scan ranges for both bands, the L-band elements are selected as perforated patches to enable the placement of C-band elements within them. Stacked-patch configurations were used to meet the bandwidth requirements, especially in the L-band. The C-band element was designed numerically, but the perforated L-band one required final experimental optimization. Also, in the latter case of L-band, a balanced transmission line feed was used to minimize cross polarization. For the C-band elements, slot coupling was used and, to simplify the feed, symmetric parasitic slots were incorporated to minimize cross polarization. No vertical connections were utilized, and electromagnetic couplings resulted in a compact low-profile design, with an electrically and thermally symmetric geometry.