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At least 271 records · Page 15

A Microstrip Patch-Fed Short Backfire Antenna for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System-Continuation (TDRSS-C) Multiple Access (MA) Array

Short Backfire Antennas (SBAs) are widely utilized for mobile satellite communications, tracking, telemetry, and wireless local area network (WLAN) applications due to their compact structure and excellent radiation characteristics [1-3]. Typically, these SBA s consist of an excitation element (i.e., a half-wavelength dipole), a reflective bottom plane, a planar sub-reflector located above the "exciter", and an outer circular rim. This configuration is capable of achieving gains on the order of 13-15 dBi, but with relatively narrow bandwidths (approx.3%-5%), making it incompatible with the requirements of the next generation enhanced Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System-Continuation (TDRSS-C) Multiple Access (MA) array [1]. Several attempts have been made to enhance the bandwidth performance of the common dipole-fed SBA by employing various other feeding mechanisms (e.g., waveguide, slot) with moderate success [4-5]. In this paper, a novel method of using a microstrip patch is employed for the first time to excite an SBA. The patch element is fed via two H-shaped slots electromagnetically coupled to a broadband hybrid coupler to maintain a wide bandwidth, as well as provide for dual circular polarization capabilities.

Nessel, James A.↗

UHF Microstrip Antenna Array for Synthetic- Aperture Radar

An ultra-high-frequency microstrippatch antenna has been built for use in airborne synthetic-aperture radar (SAR). The antenna design satisfies requirements specific to the GeoSAR program, which is dedicated to the development of a terrain-mapping SAR system that can provide information on geology, seismicity, vegetation, and other terrain-related topics. One of the requirements is for ultra-wide-band performance: the antenna must be capable of operating with dual linear polarization in the frequency range of 350 plus or minus 80 MHz, with a peak gain of 10 dB at the middle frequency of 350 MHz and a gain of at least 8 dB at the upper and lower ends (270 and 430 MHz) of the band. Another requirement is compactness: the antenna must fit in the wingtip pod of a Gulfstream II airplane. The antenna includes a linear array of microstrip-patch radiating elements supported over square cavities. Each patch is square (except for small corner cuts) and has a small square hole at its center.

Thomas, Robert F.↗

Scanning and Defocusing Properties of Microstrip Reflectarray Antennas

A symmetric reflectarray, consisting of variable-size square patch elements with a commonly used mathematical model for the horn in the form of a cosine function, has been designed using the transmit mode technique for different f/D ratios with 10 dB edge taper. Subsequently, the antennas were analyzed for the radiation pattern and gain. The infinite array model was used to determine the reflection phase of each patch element in the design and analysis codes. By displacing the feed laterally, the scan characteristics were obtained, such as the beam deviation factor, gain loss, and pattern degradation. The properties of reflect arrays were compared to those of the conventional paraboloidal reflectors. The same procedure was used to study the scan properties of offset reflectarrays. There is no cross-polarized radiation in the principal planes for a symmetric system. Cross-polarized radiation exists in non-principal planes off broadside in symmetric systems, with greater levels for larger values of subtended angles. Such cross-polarized radiation level increases with subtended angle just as cross-polarization level increases with decreasing values of f/D ratios for symmetric paraboloids in non-principal planes. Pattern distortions and gain loss were found to be more severe in the case of a microstrip reflectarray compared to the conventional parabolic reflector. The scan performance of the reflect arrays was found to improve with f/D ratios as is true for paraboloids. In general, scanning by means of displaced feed is limited to a few beam - widths in reflectarrays. Feed displacement in the axial direction of a symmetric reflectarray was investigated and compared to that of paraboloids. The gain loss due to the defocused feed of a reflectarray was found to be nearly the same as that of a paraboloid of the same subtended angle for larger values of f/D, and for displacements away from the antenna. The gain loss of an axially defocused reflectarray was found to be greater than that of a paraboloid for displacements closer to the antenna, especially for smaller values of f/D. In general, the performance of a defocused reflectarray was found to be poorer than that of a comparable paraboloid reflector.

Rengarajan, Sembiam↗

High-Voltage Silicon JFET for HV Multiplexing for the ATLAS MicroStrip Staves

We present a new kind of silicon device: a High-Voltage vertical JFET, originally conceived as a candidate for the High-Voltage Multiplexing switch in the ATLAS upgrade of the silicon microstrip Inner Tracker (ITk). The development of the geometry as well as of the technology process flow was carried out by the help of numerical simulations, which confirmed the feasibility of such a device. Using a planar process flow, both n-type and p-type HV-JFETs have been successfully fabricated in the silicon processing facility of Brookhaven National Laboratory, starting from epitaxial wafers which have been grown according to strict specifications. Probe station measurements of un-irradiated devices show low leakage current and high breakdown voltage (up to 600V) in the OFF state, and high currents in the ON state. These JFETs, thus, satisfy most of the specs required by the HV Multiplexing switch. However, only irradiation campaigns with protons and neutrons will assess their suitability as rad-hard switches.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Test Beam Analysis of Silicon Microstrip Module with Transverse Momentum Discrimination for CMS HL-LHC

The front end chip of the 2S modules (CBC) is capable of reconstructing short track segments correlating the hits of the two closely spaced silicon microstrip sensors constituting a module. These track segments can be used at the level 1 trigger to reconstruct complete tracks with a transverse momentum above 2 GeV/c keeping the trigger selection discrimination very efficient. A prototype mini-module was produced with the latest CBC version and tested before and after irradiation at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility (FTBF) during 3 test-beam campaigns.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

3-Meter Ka-Band Inflatable Microstrip Reflectarray

In order to meet the increasingly stringent budget constraints for space missions, NASA is currently developing lightweight spacecrafts with reduced stowed volume but with increased capabilities.

inflatable reflectarray microstrip antenna↗