World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 49 2009

Steered Microstrip Phased Array Antennas

J. Ehmouda, Z. Briqech, and A. Amer

phase of the radiating element, thereby producing a moving

Abstract—Beam-steering antennas are the ideal solution for a pattern with no moving parts. Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a
variety of system applications, including traffic control and collision- phased array antenna. It consists of a power distribution
avoidance radars, smart base station antennas for WLAN and cellular network, phase shifters, and antenna elements.
communication. Beam-steering is most commonly achieved through Phased array antennas are known for their capability to
using phased arrays, where phase shifters are used to control the steer the beam pattern electronically with high effectiveness,
relative of the main-beam. The objective of this research is to
managing to get minimum side-lobe levels and narrow
investigate and implement a phase shifter in a linear antenna array
for angle scan.
beamwidths. Implementations beginning during the 1950s
A microstrip antenna array is used since it is simple to design and
depend largely on microwave circuitry components such as
fabricate. The phase shifter is provided using different lengths of phase shifters, and variable amplifiers. To achieve
coaxial cable. Advanced Design system Software (ADS) is used to performance specifications such as narrow beamwidth or
simulate the phased array antenna. Measurements of return loss considerable scanning range with high angle resolution, a
( s11 ) and radiation pattern are obtained using a network analyzer. large number of antenna elements were needed to construct
Conclusions related to simulation and experimental results are given. the array. Normally phase shifters are the devices in a phased
array antenna that allow the radiated beam to be steered in the
Keywords—Microstrip Antenna, Advanced Design System, direction. Depending on the manufacturing method, phase
Transmission line phase shifter, Return loss. shifters can be classified into the following categories;
mechanical phase shifters, ferrite phase shifters,
I. INTRODUCTION semiconductor device phase shifters and transmission line
phase shifters. Various types of antennas that include wire
I N single element antenna, the radiation pattern is usually
very broad and the directivity is relatively low. This
problem can be overcamed by enlarging the size of the
antenna etc, microstrip patches, horn antenna and wave guide
are used. Power dividers are used for splitting microwave
signals to feed the radiating elements, such as, microstrip line
element thus increasing the directivity. Another way to feed, coaxial probe feed, aperture coupled feed, and proximity
enlarge the antenna without changing the size of the coupled feed.
individual elements is to assemble the radiating elements in a
geometrical configuration known as an “array”. The
individual elements forming the array are usually identical and
they can be of any form (wire antenna, microstrip patches
etc…).
Many antenna system applications require that the direction
of the beam's main lobe be changed with time, or scanned.
This is usually done by mechanically rotating a single antenna
or an array with fixed phase to the element. However,
mechanical scanning requires a positioning system that can be
costly and scan too slowly. For this reason, electronic
scanning antennas which are known as phased array antennas
are used. It can sweep the direction of the beam by varying
electronically the

Fig. 1 Corporate fed phase shifter

J. M. Ehmouda is with Comprehensive Higher Institute of Electronics,
Department of Electronics and Electric , Bani-walid, P.O Box 38538 Libya
(phone: +218-92-5280784; e-mail: algwarey@yahoo.com).
Z. M. Briqech is with Comprehensive Higher Institute of Electronics,
Department of Electronics and Electric, Bani-walid, P.O Box 38538 Libya
(phone: +218-91-4054128; e-mail: briqech@yahoo.com)
A. A. Amer is with Comprehensive Higher Institute of Electronics,
Department of Electronics and Electric, Bani-walid, P.O Box 38538 Libya
(phone: +218-91-3815485; e-mail: SBDAMER@yahoo.com).
II. TRANSMISSION LINE PHASE SHIFTER
In this design, it can be shown that by varying the phase of
the two transmissions, the radiation pattern is changed. The
switched line phase shifter model best describes the phase
shifting process of this design. Two switches are used to
permit either one of the two paths to be selected for the
transmission path. Fig. 2 illustrates the schematic diagram of
the Switched-line phase shifter.

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 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 49 2009

beam width is 25o.

Fig. 2 Switched line phase shifter

In this schematic, the lower path has transmission length L,

while the upper path has a transmission length L+ Δ L. the
path length L acts as a reference line as well as the reference
phase. The additional length Δ L that gives the phase delay is
determined by the equation given defined by:

β = ε eff K ΔL (1) Fig. 4 3-D Radiation pattern of array antenna with scan.

2πf
K = (2)
c
2πΔLf ε eff
β= (3)
c
However, since this design is implemented using microstrip
technology, the physical length, ΔL , is determined by:
β c
ΔL = (4)
2πf ε eff
Where c is the speed of light, f is the operating frequency and
ε eff is the effective dielectric constant.

III. SIMULATION RESULTS USING ADVANCED DESIGN

SYSTEM
The antenna shown in Fig. 3 is designed to scan the beam at
twenty seven degree. In this design, the beam is steered by Fig. 5 Polar radiation pattern of array antenna with scan.
changing the phase between elements. The phase between the
elements is changed by changing the length of the feeders
between elements. The different length of feeders ( ΔL ) that
is required to scan the main beam to twenty seven degree is,
ΔL =9.01 mm, 2 ΔL =18.02 mm, 3 ΔL =27.03 mm.

Fig. 6 Rectangular radiation pattern of array antenna with san

Fig. 3 Antenna with scan configuration

A. Radiation Pattern
Using ADS software, the radiation pattern of the designed
antenna is shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5, and Fig. 6. The half power

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B. Return Loss Dielectric constant, ε r =4.4.

The return loss of the antenna is shown in Fig. 7. From the Dielectric height, h =1.58 mm
Fig. the resonance frequency of the antenna is at 9.9 GHz and
Spacing between element, d = 0.6λ
S 11 = - 26 dB. The band width of the antenna is 5.5 %.
Length of delay cables,
ΔL = 3cm , 2ΔL = 6cm , 3ΔL = 9cm .

Fig. 7 Return loss of array antenna with scan

Fig. 9 Polarization of array antenna

C. Directivity and Gain

The directivity and gain are plotted in Fig. 8. The gain of
the antenna is 11 dB in the main beam at theta equal twenty
seven.

Fig. 10 Antenna array configuration

Fig. 8 Directivity and gain of array antenna with scan

D. Polarization
The antenna is linearly polarized. The isolation between co-
polarization and cross-polarization is less than -18 dB as
shown Fig. 9.

IV. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

A. Designed Antenna
Fig. 11 Transmission line phase shifter
The designed antenna array with phase shifters is shown in
Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 has the following parameters:
Resonant frequency at, f=1.521 GHz.

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B. Return Loss
The return loss of the antenna is shown in Fig. 12. From the
Fig. the resonance frequency of the antenna 1.53165 GHz and
S 11 = - 24.49dB. The band width of the antenna is 1.958%.
Fig. 12 Measured return loss
C. Measure Radiation Pattern
The measured radiation pattern is shown in Fig. 13, if
shown the beam is steered to 15 D .
Fig. 13 Measured radiation pattern
V. CONCLUSION
In this work, four element phased array using microstrip
antenna and transmission line phase shifter has been designed,
simulated and tested. The following points are observed.
1. In the case of this research, the phase shift is obtained
through the introduction of additional path length of
coaxial cable.
2. To produce a broadside beam, θ D = 0 , requires
phase excitation β n = 0 , other scan angle require an
excitation β n = nkd cos(θ 0 ) for the n element.
th
3. Amplitude excitation can be used to control beam
shape and side lobe level. In this dissertation the
amplitude excitation is constant.
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4. A problem associated with all electronic scanning is
beam distortion with scan angle. It results in spread
of the beam shape and a consequent reduction in gain
known as "scan loss".
5. When elements are spaced greater than λ/2 a part,
grating lobes are possible.
6. Increase the spacing between elements less than λ/2
will reduce the HPBW and increase the antenna
directivity due to increase size.
7. Increase number of elements will decrease HPBW so
will increase the directivity.
8. The bandwidth becomes smaller as the array is made
larger or as the scan angle is increased.
9. The use of coaxial delay lines is impractical due to
increased cost, complexity and weight.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to
the Academy of Graduate Studies [Tripoli-Libya] , the Higher
Institute of Electronics [Bani-Walid / Libya] and
Comprehensive Higher Institute [Bani-Walid / Libya] for the
providing needed support.
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 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 49 2009

Jamal M. Ehmouda, B.Sc. Microwaves Engendering

in 1997, from Faculty of Electronics Engineering
Bani-Walid, and 2008. M.Sc. degree in Specialty: ns,
Department: Electronic and Electrical
Engineering, School of Applied Sciences and
Engineering, Academy of Graduate Studies, Tripoli,
Libya.

Zouhair M. Briqech, B.Sc. Communication

Engendering in 2003, from Faculty of Electronics
Engineering Bani-Walid, and 2007. M.Sc. degree in
Specialty: Microwaves & Communications,
Department: Electronic and Electrical Engineering,
School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Academy
of Graduate Studies, Tripoli, Libya.

Abduladeem A. Amer, B.Sc. Communication

Engendering in 2003, from Faculty of Electronics
Engineering Bani-Walid, and 2007. M.Sc. degree in
Specialty: Microwaves & Communications,
Department: Electronic and Electrical Engineering,
School of Applied Sciences and Engineering,
Academy of Graduate Studies, Tripoli, Libya.

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