IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL.
10, 2011
Microstrip Antenna Arrays Fed by a Series-Parallel
Slot-Coupled Feeding Network
Krzysztof Wincza and Slawomir Gruszczynski
Abstract—A novel concept of a feeding network of a microstrip
antenna array composed of series-fed linear subarrays has been
shown. The proposed feeding network utilizes a concept of a slot
coupler, in which two microstrip lines are coupled through a slot in
a common ground plane. As it has been shown, such a slot coupler
provides equal-amplitude and out-of-phase output signals and,
therefore, can be used for appropriate feeding (at the center) of
a single linear antenna subarray that utilizes “through-element”
series-feeding technique. The proposed concept of a slot coupler
has been used for the design of an 8 8 antenna array, in which
all 8 1 linear subarrays are series-fed, whereas all 8 linear
subarrays are fed by a parallel feeding network.
Index Terms—Antenna arrays, antennas with reduced losses,
parallel-fed antennas, series-fed antennas, slot-coupled feeding
network.
I. INTRODUCTION
M ICROSTRIP antenna arrays are often used in modern
telecommunication and radar systems. A common ap-
proach for realization of antenna feeding networks relies on uti-
lization of a corporate connection of Wilkinson power dividers.
Such a solution allows for in-phase excitation of all radiating
elements in a broad frequency range, yet suffers from relatively
large dissipation losses within the feeding network. To mini-
mize losses, a series-feeding technique can be applied [1]. In
such antennas, radiating elements can be fed from a single trans-
mission line [2]–[4], or alternatively, the signal can be trans-
mitted through the radiating elements [5]–[7]. In the second ap-
proach, the overall length of transmission lines connecting par-
ticular radiating elements can be minimized, especially when a
linear antenna array is fed at its center. Such an approach, how-
ever, requires feeding both parts of the linear antenna array with
equal-amplitude and out-of-phase signals. Therefore, there is a
need for realization of a 180 phase shifter at the center part of
the series-fed linear antenna array. This is commonly realized
by insertion of a 180 -long transmission-line section. An ex-
emplary realization of such an antenna array is shown in [7]. It
Manuscript received July 16, 2011; accepted August 31, 2011. Date of publi-
cation September 08, 2011; date of current version October 03, 2011. This work
was supported in part by the National Center for Research and Development
under the Lider Program, Contract LIDER/16/66/L-1/09/NCBiR/2010, and in
the statutory activity of the Department of Electronics, AGH University of Sci-
ence and Technology.
The authors are with Department of Electronics, AGH University of Sci-
ence and Technology, 30-059 Cracow, Poland (e-mail: krzysztof.wincza@agh.
edu.pl; slawomir.gruszczynski@agh.edu.pl).
Color versions of one or more of the figures in this letter are available online
at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/LAWP.2011.2167491
1536-1225/$26.00 © 2011 IEEE
991
is known that a 180 phase shifter that is realized as a transmis-
sion-line section operates in a narrow frequency range. More-
over, it introduces asymmetry within the feeding network of a
linear antenna array. This in turn causes the deterioration of the
antenna radiation pattern, especially when the antenna has to
operate within a broad frequency range.
In this letter, we present a novel approach for feeding linear
antenna subarrays, in which “through-element” feeding tech-
nique is used. In the proposed approach, slot couplers are intro-
duced at the center of each linear antenna subarray providing for
simultaneous power division and 180 differential phase shifts
of the output signals within a broad frequency range. The pro-
posed method has been used for the design of an 8 8 antenna
array operating within 24-GHz frequency range. In the designed
antenna array, the signal is first distributed between all linear an-
tenna subarrays with the use of a parallel feeding network, and
then is coupled thought slots in a common ground plane directly
to the centers of each of the linear subarrays. Further signal dis-
tribution between radiating elements of each linear subarray is
done with the use of a series “through-element” feeding tech-
nique [7]. The advantages of the proposed feeding network are:
1) full symmetry at the top metallization layer, where the ra-
diating elements are placed, which in turn results in better ra-
diation pattern; 2) realization of ideal broadband 180 phase
shifter at the center of each linear antenna subarray; 3) inde-
pendent signal distribution between linear subarrays and across
each antenna subarray placed on different metallization layers;
4) minimization of losses within the feeding network. The pro-
posed approach has been experimentally verified by the mea-
surements of the manufactured 8 8 antenna array.
II. 8 8 ANTENNA ARRAY DESIGN WITH SERIES-PARALLEL
SLOT-COUPLED FEEDING NETWORK
In the proposed approach, an 8 8 antenna array is composed
of eight 8 1 linear antenna subarrays. Each 8 1 linear sub-
array consists of two identical 4 1 linear subarrays designed
with the use of the series feeding technique shown in [7]. As it
was shown in [7], a pair of such 4 1 antenna subarrays can
constitute an 8 1 linear antenna array. However, a 180 phase
shift needs to be introduced for proper excitation to ensure a
broadside beam. This is commonly achieved with the use of a
180 -long section of a transmission line [7]. The novel feeding
concept of such an eight-element linear antenna subarray is ex-
plained in Fig. 1. The transmission line feeding the 8 1 linear
antenna subarray is placed below the ground plane and is aper-
ture-coupled to the series-feeding network at the center of the
8 1 linear subarray. It is important to underline that such a
slot coupling provides good return losses at port #1 and equal
992 IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL. 10, 2011

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram showing the idea of feeding a linear antenna sub-
array directly at its center with the use of the proposed slot coupler. (a) Cross-
sectional view of the proposed slot coupler and (b) its application for excitation
of the series-fed linear subarray.

power split between the reference planes marked as #2 and #3

when upper and bottom lines are symmetrically placed with re-
spect to the slot and when the stub length of the bottom line is
appropriately chosen (see Fig. 1). Moreover, the signals at the
Fig. 2. Results of electromagnetic calculations of a proposed slot coupler
reference planes #2 and #3 are 180 apart, which is vital for (three-port network shown in Fig. 1(b)) used for feeding of a linear antenna
achieving a broadside beam from such a linear array. The elec- subarray directly at its center with signals at reference planes #2 and #3 having
equal amplitude and 180 phase difference. (a) Amplitude characteristics and
tromagnetically calculated results of the designed slot coupler (b) differential phase characteristic.
are shown in Fig. 2. It is seen that the proposed slot coupler
provides equal power division and 180 differential phase of
the output signals within a broad frequency range. The band-
width of the proposed slot coupler is actually determined by the
reflection coefficient at the input (reference plane #1). Such a
solution allows for achieving broadside beam from the linear
antenna subarray in a wide frequency range.
For the purpose of appropriate power distribution across all
eight linear antenna subarrays, a well-known parallel feeding
network consisting of reactive power dividers is used.

III. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

The presented concept has been experimentally verified. Ini-
tially, an 8 1 linear antenna array designed for the center fre-
quency of 24.15 GHz has been manufactured and measured. The
antenna has been designed with the use of the structure shown
in Fig. 1(a), in which two layers of Arlon 25 N laminate having
thickness mm and dielectric constant have
been stacked together. The antenna has been fed through the
slot directly in the center of its feeding network from a straight
transmission line placed on the bottom layer (see Fig. 1). To
achieve lower sidelobe level, a taper excitation across the array
Fig. 3. Calculated (dotted line) and measured (solid line) E-plane copolar radi-
ation patterns of the manufactured 8 1 antenna subarray fed at the center with
the use of the proposed slot coupler ( GHz).
has been applied [8]. The antenna array has been optimized to
achieve sidelobes better than 20 dB. The measured radiation pat-
tern in comparison to the calculated one is shown in Fig. 3. The
electromagnetic calculations have been performed with the use
of Ansoft Ensemble software, in which infinite ground plane
WINCZA AND GRUSZCZYNSKI: MICROSTRIP ANTENNA ARRAYS FED BY SERIES-PARALLEL SLOT-COUPLED FEEDING NETWORK 993

Fig. 4. Calculated (dotted line) and measured (solid line) reflection coefficient
of the manufactured 8 8 antenna array fed with the use of the series-parallel
slot-coupled network.

is assumed. A good agreement between the calculations and

measurements has been achieved, especially in terms of 3-dB
beamwidth, which is equal to 14 . Also, the measured sidelobe
level is comparable to the calculated one, and both calculated
and measured radiation patterns feature broadside beam. The
measured gain of the manufactured antenna equals 12 dBi. The
designed linear antenna subarray has been used for realization Fig. 5. Calculated (dotted line) and measured (solid line) radiation patterns
of an 8 8 antenna array that has been designed in the same di- of the manufactured 8 8 antenna array fed by the use of the series-par-
allel slot-coupled network. (a) E-plane copolar and (b) H-plane copolar
electric structure. A parallel feeding network composed of reac- ( GHz).
tive power dividers has been used for signal distribution across
all linear antenna subarrays. The power divisions of each power
divider have been chosen to ensure taper excitation across all
eight linear antenna subarrays in order to reduce sidelobes.
The measured reflection coefficient of the antenna array in
comparison to the calculated one is shown in Fig. 4. It is seen
that good impedance match of the manufactured 8 8 antenna
array has been achieved. The calculated and measured radiation
patterns in two principle cut-planes are presented in Fig. 5
showing good agreement, especially in terms of the achieved
beamwidths. It is seen that the antenna features broadside
beam in E-plane, which proves the correctness of the presented
approach. The measured sidelobe level in E-plane is about
17 dB and corresponds to the calculated one. The achieved
sidelobe level in H-plane equals 23 dB. The measured gain of
the 8 8 antenna array at the center frequency equals 18 dBi.
Fig. 6 presents a photograph of the manufactured 8 8 antenna
array in which the full symmetry within each 8 1 antenna
subarray and the coupling slots used for feeding are seen.

IV. CONCLUSION
A novel approach for feeding linear antenna arrays com-
posed of series-fed “through-element” patches is proposed. The
proposed feeding network utilizes a concept of a slot coupler
that provides both equal power division and a 180 phase
shift within a broad frequency range. The proposed concept
has been utilized in the design of the 8 8 antenna array fed
by a series-parallel feeding network. In the presented design,
all 8 1 linear antenna subarrays are realized with the use of
Fig. 6. Pictures of the manufactured 8 8 antenna array fed with the use of the
proposed slot couplers. (a) Top view showing the series feeding network and
the placement of coupling slots. (b) Bottom view showing the parallel feeding
network.
“through-element” coupled patch technique [7] and are fed at
the centers by the proposed slot couplers. The parallel feeding
994
network having slot couplers at its eight outputs is utilized for
feeding all the 8 1 linear subarrays. The proposed feeding
technique allows for independent design of feeding networks
of two-dimensional antenna arrays with arbitrary power distri-
bution in each dimension. Moreover, the proposed excitation
of linear antenna arrays with the use of slot couplers allows
for achieving broadside beam within a broad frequency range
due to the simultaneous realization of equal power division
and the ideal 180 phase shift between the output signals.
Another advantage of the proposed feeding network is that it
allows for achieving better radiation pattern of linear antenna
subarrays. This is due to the fact that the radiation pattern is not
deteriorated by either a narrowband 180 phase shifter realized
at the center of linear antenna subarrays or by the asymmetry
within the feeding network placed at the same layer as radi-
ating elements. The proposed feeding technique, in which slot
couplers are used, has been confirmed by measurements of
the designed 8 8 antenna array operating within 24.15-GHz
frequency range, in which sidelobes have been reduced in both
principal cut-planes.
IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL. 10, 2011
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