Frequency-Diversified Space-Efficient Radiating Surface Using Convolved Electric and Magnetic Currents for Highly Dense Multiband Antenna-Frontend Integration

Abstract

We propose and investigate a methodology based on convolved electric and magnetic currents for the generation of multi-band responses over a space-shared radiating surface. First, a single wideband antenna operation principle based on interleaved dipole and slot modes is studied and analyzed using full-wave simulations followed by a qualitative time domain analysis. Subsequently, a $2\times 2$ dual-band radiating unit is conceived and developed by closely arranging single wideband antennas. In this case, multimode resonances are generated in a lower frequency band by a proper convolving and coupling of the magnetic and electric currents realized in the gaps between the antennas and on the surface of the antennas, respectively. This methodology can be deployed repeatedly to build up a self-scalable topology by reusing the electromagnetically (EM) connected radiating surfaces and gaps between the radiating units. Due to the efficient reuse of the electromagnetic region for the development of multiband radiation, a high aperture-reuse efficiency is achieved. Finally, as a proof of concept, a $2\times 4$ dual-band array operating in Ku- and Ka-bands is developed and fabricated by a linear arrangement of the two developed radiating units. Our measurement results show that the proposed antenna array provides impedance and gain bandwidths of 30% and 25.4% in the Ku-band and 10.65% and 8.52% in the Ka-band, respectively.