A Low-Cost Phased Array for Mobile Satellite Communications

Inhalt:
This paper describes an advanced concept for an electronically steerable antenna for mobile satellite communications. The antenna consists of eight stacked patches, mounted on a heptagonal surface. By switching between either single elements or combinations of two active elements hemispherical coverage can be reached. The realization of an inertial sensor system and an active power control makes the antenna suitable for worldwide L-band satellite communications. Typical applications for this antenna are boats, ships, trains and trucks.