Ring Multibeam Antenna Array with Frequency Scanning

Abstract

Implementation of scanning antennas for noise-immune communication and radar systems is an important and urgent task. One of the most promising methods of beam deflection is frequency scanning that can be effectively combined with switching, which will provide full-azimuth and elevation scanning without using phase shifters. The aim of this work is the study and simulation of a ring multibeam antenna system with the ability to frequency scan and the formation of several beams simultaneously, as well as the simulation with feeding of different ports to assess the capabilities of forming different antenna beams in the multibeam mode also. The study of the possibility of beam deflection in frequency with the determination of the range of operating frequencies is also envisaged. The main results are obtained on the basis of electrodynamic modeling, which has been performed using the finite element method in DS CST Studio Suite 2025. The main methods for analyzing the characteristics are based on the consideration of the radiation patterns, as well as their behavior during diffraction on echelette gratings. The characteristics of the antenna system were obtained in the frequency range from 8.3 to 10 GHz. It is found that the antenna system allows implementing full-azimuth scanning by switching a different number of input ports. It is shown that the proposed design of the antenna system can be controlled both in the beam direction and in the main lobe width by switching a different number of antenna elements with maintaining frequency scanning in a wide range of operating frequencies. It is found that the antenna allows for the formation of two differently directed beams with frequency scanning. The proposed antenna system can be used to implement high-frequency detection of small targets and a noise-immune communication channel with frequency tuning to keep an object in the antenna beam. The peculiarity of the proposed multibeam antenna is the possibility of implementing the two-coordinate scanning based on the frequency scanning and switching connection of antenna elements.