This dissertation introduces new technologies and techniques for low-cost phased arrays and scanning antennas. Special emphasis is placed on new approaches for low-cost millimeter-wave beam control. Several topics are covered. A novel reconfigurable grating antenna is presented for low-cost millimeter-wave beam steering. The versatility of the approach is proven by adapting the design to dual-beam and circular-polarized operation. In addition, a simple and accurate procedure is developed for analyzing these antennas. Designs are presented for low-cost microwave/millimeter-wave phased-array transceivers with extremely broad bandwidth. The target applications for these systems are mobile satellite communications and ultra-wideband radar. Monolithic PIN diodes are a useful technology, especially suited for building miniaturized control components in microwave and millimeter-wave phased arrays. This dissertation demonstrates a new strategy for extracting bias-dependent small-signal models for monolithic PIN diodes. The space solar-power satellite (SPS) is a visionary plan that involves beaming electrical power from outer space to the earth using a high-power microwave beam. Such a system must have retrodirective control so that the high-power beam always points on target. This dissertation presents a new phased-array architecture for the SPS system that could considerably reduce its overall cost and complexity. In short, this dissertation presents technologies and techniques that reduce the cost of beam steering at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies. The results of this work should have a far-ranging impact on the future of wireless systems.

This dissertation introduces new technologies and techniques for low-cost phased arrays and scanning antennas. Special emphasis is placed on new approaches for low-cost millimeter-wave beam control. Several topics are covered. A novel reconfigurable grating antenna is presented for low-cost millimeter-wave beam steering. The versatility of the approach is proven by adapting the design to dual-beam and circular-polarized operation. In addition, a simple and accurate procedure is developed for analyzing these antennas. Designs are presented for low-cost microwave/millimeter-wave phased-array transceivers with extremely broad bandwidth. The target applications for these systems are mobile satellite communications and ultra-wideband radar. Monolithic PIN diodes are a useful technology, especially suited for building miniaturized control components in microwave and millimeter-wave phased arrays. This dissertation demonstrates a new strategy for extracting bias-dependent small-signal models for monolithic PIN diodes. The space solar-power satellite (SPS) is a visionary plan that involves beaming electrical power from outer space to the earth using a high-power microwave beam. Such a system must have retrodirective control so that the high-power beam always points on target. This dissertation presents a new phased-array architecture for the SPS system that could considerably reduce its overall cost and complexity. In short, this dissertation presents technologies and techniques that reduce the cost of beam steering at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies. The results of this work should have a far-ranging impact on the future of wireless systems.

Nous étudions la mise en oeuvre d ‘antenne à balayage électronique dédiés aux applications de communications par satellite géostationnaire. Les structures développées sont adaptées pour être embarquées dans un avion ou un train. L'architecture de l'antenne développée est constituée d’un double réseau linéaire dans deux dimmensions transverses. Le balayage dans chaque réseau linéaire est assuré par des lignes coplanaires à métamateriaux contrôlées par varactor. Nous porposons de nouvelles méthodes de caracterisation des discontinuités en ligne coplanaire pour la conception de la ligne. De plus, un système de prélèvement d'énergie a dû être conçu afin d'alimenter des éléments rayonnants et testé avec différentes antennes patch. Enfin, nous envisageons la co-intégration des structures rayonnantes et des lignes CRLH ainsi que le contrôle électronique par les diodes. / We are studying the implementation of 'Scanning Antenna dedicated to the applications of satellite communications geostationary. The structures developed are suitable for to be on board an airplane or a train. The architecture of the antenna developed consists of a double linear network in two transverse dimmensions. The scan in each network is provided by the lines coplanar to metamaterials controlled by varactor. We porposons of new methods characterization of discontinuities coplanar online for the line design. In addition, a energy harvesting system has be designed to feed radiating elements and tested with patch different antennas. Finally, we are considering co-integration radiating structures and CRLH lines as well as control electronic by the diodes.

La demande toujours croissante de connectivité et de débit de données requiert une rupture dans la conception des futurs réseaux de communication et systèmes radio. Plusieurs applications émergentes en bande millimétrique, notamment les réseaux mobiles de cinquième génération (5G) et les communications satellites, exigent des antennes large bande qui assurent une grande couverture angulaire, tout en étant à la fois compactes, facilement intégrables et à bas coût.Cette thèse propose des systèmes antennaires multifaisceaux large bande et à très grande couverture angulaire, appelés «Continuous Transverse Stub Antenna» (CTS), pour réaliser un bon compromis de l’ensemble de ces objectifs. L’architecture de l’antenne comprend un réseau de fentes longues excitées par un réseau d’alimentation en chandelier, basé sur des guides d’onde à plans parallèles. Cette structure est excitée par un formateur de faisceaux quasi-optique co-intégré. La première partie du manuscrit présent des nouveaux modèles numériques qui facilitent la conception de chaque sous-système de l’antenne et permettent l’analyse des performances globales, soit en termes d’adaptation, soit en termes de diagrammes de rayonnement. Ces outils sont exploités pour la conception d’antenne et pour étudier les limites en balayage. La thèse se poursuit en présentant de nouvelles solutions technologiques et de nouveaux design pour intégrer les antennes CTS dans des modules multicouches planaires et à faible profil. La conception et la caractérisation de deux antennes intégrées en technologie LTCC pour des points d’accès 5G à 60 GHz sont discutées. L’une des deux est à faisceau fixe, l’autre est à balayage électronique, avec une couverture de ±40°, de faibles lobes secondaires et un niveau élevé de recoupement des faisceaux. Enfin, nous proposons l’association de radomes polarisants planaires à faible profil aux antennes CTS, pour réaliser des systèmes rayonnants en polarisation circulaire. Une méthodologie systématique pour la conception de polarisateurs à très large bande est présentée, ainsi qu’un design couvrant entièrement la bande Ka pour des applications satellites. / The ever-growing demand for fast and seamless connectivity shows the need of new wireless standards and technologies. Novel broadband, wide-angle scanning antennas achieving an optimal trade-off among size, gain, efficiency and costs are crucial to the development of emerging applications at millimeter waves, such as fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks and satellite communications. In this thesis, multibeam parallel-fed continuous transverse stub (CTS) array antennas are proposed as possible candidates for future mm-wave communications and are developed to tackle these requirements. The antenna architecture comprises an array of long slots, a corporate feed network based on parallel plate waveguides (PPWs) and an integrated quasi-optical beamformer. First, novel numerical models for the analysis of each subsystem and of the overall antenna, are presented, which enable an efficient and modular design of CTS antennas. These tools are exploited to derive design guidelines and assess the scanning performance. Then, novel design and technological solutions for the integration of CTS antennas in flat, low-profile multilayer modules are discussed. The design and characterization of two prototypes in LTCC technology, for 60-GHz mobile access points are presented: a fixed beam array and a switched-beam antenna with a field of view of ±40°, low SLLs and high beam overlap. Finally, planar linear-to-circular polarization converters are proposed to realize circularly polarized CTS antenna systems. A procedure to achieve an ultra-wideband, low-loss polarization conversion is outlined and a design for Ka-band satellite application is presented.

Research interest: In recent years we have seen the emergence of commercial applications at high frequencies, such as the top part of the microwave band and the millimeter and sub-millimeter bands, and it is expected a big increase in the coming years. This growing demand requires a rapid development of low-cost technology with good performance at these frequencies, where common technologies, such as microstrip and standard waveguides, have some shortcomings. In particular, existing solutions for high-gain planar scanning antennas at these frequencies su er from the disadvantages of these technologies giving rise to high-cost products not suitable for high volume production. Objectives: The main objective of this thesis is to study the feasibility of a new proposal to improve existing solutions to date for low-cost high-gain planar scanning antennas at high frequencies. This overall objective has resulted in another central objective of this thesis, which is the research of new quasi-TEM waveguides that are more appropriate than current technologies for the realization of circuits and components at these frequency bands. These guided solutions make use of periodic or arti cial surfaces in order to con- ne and channel the elds within these waveguides. Methodology: The work follows a logical sequence of speci c tasks aimed at achieving the main objective of this thesis. Chapter 2 presents the proposed guiding solution and shows its performance numerical and experimentally. The optimized design of high-gain antennas based on waveguide slot arrays requires the development of e cient ad-hoc codes. The implementation and validation of this code is presented in Chapter 3, where a new method for the analysis of corrugated surfaces is proposed, and in Chapter 4, which extends this code to the analysis of waveguide slot arrays. The process design and optimization of a two-dimensional array is described in Chapter 5, where a preliminary experimental validation is also described. Moreover, the proposed guiding solution has inspired the development of a new guiding technology of wider bandwidth and more versatile for the realization of circuits and components at high frequencies. Chapter 6 presents the contributions to the study of this technology and its application to the design of circuits. / Alfonso Alós, E. (2011). New quasi-TEM waveguides using artificial surfaces and their application to antennas and circuits [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/11073