X Band Planar Antenna Design Source?

[kenVTME90]

I am a M.E. but my company is looking to outsource the design for a 9.2GHz planar array antenna.

We can make the antenna, we are just looking for someone to do the design. Does anybody have a source?

Obviously there are alot more details but we are just looking for a place to start.

I contacted a couple of Universities but there response was lacking and the price was insane.

Thanks.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

The price from a university was insane? I suggest talking to specific professors and/or undergrad students and seeing if they'd like to take on the design as part of a project, like a senior design. It would take a few months, but it would be (nearly?) free.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[kenVTME90]

I contacted the universities research departments. They wanted $50,000 to $65,000 just for the design. I had a commercial quote for $50,000 to design and prototype.

I was hoping somebody with the right software could design the channels and slots and centerfeed and we could make the antenna in our shop.

$50,000 is more than we wanted to put into it.

I would love to find a grad student that would take it on as a design project.

 

[Higgler]

What's the specifics of the design?

 

[kenVTME90]

specifics of one of the antennas:

Antenna #1
. Frequency: 9.2 GHz
. Bandwidth requirement: ± 20 MHz
. Input Power: 80 Watts Peak
. Average Power: variable, but highest is 0.7 watts
. Input port: SMA Female
. 4 hole threaded mounting on back
. Azimuth Sidelobe levels: Better than 30 dB down desired; Better than 25 dB down required
. Elevation Sidelobe levels: Better than 20 dB down required.
. Azimuth Beamwidth desired: 3.0 degrees max required. . Elevation Beamwidth: 9 degrees

 

[Higgler]

Power is no problem, bandwidth is nice and narrow.

That's a fairly large array, approx. 10 inches tall (12 elements) and 30 inches wide (36 elements). 432 elements is a pretty large power divider. The antenna element design is fairly simple, simple patch antenna. The power divider takes much more effort.

You didn't mention the
1) gain, if critical (sets loss in power divider)
2) polarization of the antenna, V, H, Circular.
3) environmental, rain, snow, ice formation factors(affects radome, affects antenna maybe).

In order of time and effort, easiest is the antenna element. Hardest is the power divider.

Depending on how you want to make this, you could make it a two job effort to save money. The full job is probably a $50 price and the two part job may end up a $10K job if you do all the mechanical.

1) Antenna design and
2) power divider design.
Low sidelobe levels may require the power divider to be on the far side of your groundplane so it doesn't radiate (if your -30 dB sidelobe level is critical).

Feel free to contact me.

khiggins

http://www.toyon.com

 

[VEBill]

The specs aren't far off an X-band radar antenna. Planar versions are plates with slots and some made-up waveguide components behind. The slots in the field are normally evenly spaced, but those nearest the outer edges are often adjusted outward to reduce sidelobes. If you could find an example that meets your requirements and is old enough to be beyond patent protection - you could simply copy the design.

 

[Higgler]

Good Point VE1BLL,

I think boat radars are 9.4 ghz band.

I have a boat radar antenna, 22"x3" X band printed circuit microstrip array (3x24 elements)9.4 ghz band. I has sidelobe tapering on it via the power dividers.


khiggins

http://www.toyon.com