Millimeter Wave Antennas for Avionics,
Abstract:
An overview over the area of mm-wave antennas is presented with emphasis on possible avionics applications. For the purpose of the review, mm-wave radiating structures are grouped into two classes, i.e., antennas of conventional configuration and antennas based on new design concepts. The first class is composed of well known antennas such as reflector, lens, horn and slotted waveguide antennas. The design principles and performance characteristics of these antennas are well established at microwave and lower frequencies and scaling into the mm-wave region is straightforward in most cases. The reduction in size and the tighter fabrication tolerances associated with mm-wave region can be regarded as well understand. Most mm-wave antennas which are currently in use belong to this class of conventional antennas. The second class, consisting of antennas with significant features that are peculiar to the mm-wave region, is still under study. It includes radiating structures such as printed circuit mm-wave antennas antennas derived from open mm-waveguides and integrated antennas. Some of these antennas have microwave counterparts. Others are new with no microwave heritage.