Low-profile scanning antenna array based on an aperture-coupled radiator

A low-profile antenna array based on an aperture-coupled element with wide-angle mechanoelectric scanning is considered. The scanning sector of the developed antenna array is 0–60$^\circ$ by the criterion of the gain degradation by no more than 3 dB at the whole antenna profile of 48 mm. The developed aperture-coupled antenna element with two linear orthogonal polarizations has a multilayer structure and gain of more than 7 dB in the frequency band of 10.7–12.75 GHz. The presented antenna array consists of eight identical subarrays each consisting of 16 aperture-coupled radiators. Modeling and analysis of the directional characteristics of the antenna array based on an aperture-coupled radiator are performed. Conclusions are made about the applicability of the proposed antenna array based on the aperture-coupled element in ground terminals of satellite communication, including those for low-orbit and medium-orbit systems.