Sixteen-by-sixteen array of series-fed aperture-coupled microstrip patch antennas

A new recursive technique of building series‐fed arrays is introduced in this paper. This technique is based on a series‐feeding network that distributes the input power uniformly among four output ports. If these output ports are terminated by four radiating elements, a one‐by‐four array is obtained. If four such arrays are connected using the same network, a four‐by‐four array can be constructed. Similarly, the same series‐feeding network is used to connect four of the previously obtained four‐by‐four arrays to realize a four‐by‐sixteen array. Finally, four of these arrays are connected together to achieve the desired sixteen‐by‐sixteen array. The single element used for this research is an aperture‐coupled square microstrip patch. All the proposed arrays are fabricated using Printed Circuit Board technology. Detailed theoretical analysis, via two well‐known packages, in addition to experimental characterization is performed. The results show that the proposed arrays enjoy wideband behavior, low‐cross‐polarization level, symmetric broadside radiation patterns, low‐side‐lobe level, reasonable front‐to‐back radiation ratio, high directivity, and good gain. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:2705–2711, 2011; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.26310