The flat antenna - Now a reality
Abstract
A practical, high-performance, low-cost, consumer-oriented flat antenna is described. Advantages of the flat antenna include a thin profile which is less obtrusive than a parabolic dish, features less expensive shipping and installation costs due to its light weight, has the ability to squint the beam, and has improved aperture control for sidelobe suppression. R&D focuses on development of monolithic microwave integrated circuts which will be embedded into the array, thus adding the potential features of amenability to integrated electronics (which will improve noise performance and avoid the necessity of appending an external low-noise converter), and electronic steerability to the list of flat antenna advantages. The basic construction of the flat panel and the intended market for the first flat antennas and the subsequent effect on product design are discussed. Initial market results in Japan, and planned development of European and American markets are discussed.
- Publication:
-
Space Communication Broadcasting
- Pub Date:
- September 1989
- Bibcode:
- 1989SpCoB...6..457W
- Keywords:
-
- Antenna Arrays;
- Antenna Components;
- Antenna Design;
- Integrated Circuits;
- Research And Development;
- Noise Reduction;
- Product Development;
- Signal To Noise Ratios;
- Communications and Radar