Microstrip Antenna Array With Series Feeding Network Designed With the Use of Slot-Coupled Three-Way Power Divider

A novel concept of a series feeding network of a microstrip antenna array has been shown. The proposed feeding network utilizes a four-port slot coupler as a three-way power divider, which is composed of two microstrip lines appropriately coupled through a slot within a common ground plane. The proposed power divider is used for simultaneous power distribution between two consecutive linear subarrays and between two 4 × 1 linear arrays constituting a single 8 × 1 linear subarray, where equal-amplitude and out-of-phase signals are required. Such a solution allows for realization of antenna arrays, in which all linear subarrays designed with the use of the “through-element” series feeding technique are fed at their centers from single transmission lines. The theoretical analysis as well as measurement results of the 8 × 8 antenna array operating within 10.5-GHz frequency range are shown.