Microstrip Antenna Designs for Sensor and Communications Applications

[attachment=16018]
Outline

One of the main goals of the Center for Advanced Sensor and Communications Antennas at the University of Massachusetts is to identify and develop antenna technologies with improved performance and/or reduced cost for future applications.


Near field focused microstrip array
Ku band fan beam microstrip array
Improved bandwidth microstrip reflectarray


Near Field Focused Microstrip Array

Application to low-cost radiometric temperature sensor
Food industry, chemical processing, materials manufacturing
Radiometric technique works through smoke, dust, or steam
Developed by ProSensing Inc (Amherst), and K. Stephan (Texas State U)
12.5 GHz, focus to a spot size of 2.6” at 12” from aperture
Two array versions were designed, fabricated, and tested
Near field testing done at Hanscom AFB
Resulting antenna is substantially smaller and cheaper than original horn