An Innovative UWB Connected Array for Multifunctional Applications

This work describes the design procedures and prototype measurements of an innovative ultra wideband (UWB) antenna for Multifunctional Active Electronically Scanned Array (M-AESA) systems. The proposed antenna is a Connected Array composed by 24 Connected Vivaldi elements in vertical polarization, displaced in 3 rows and 8 columns. The array is completely metallic (aluminum), ensuring a high total efficiency. One of the key aspects of this architecture is that it takes advantage of electrical connections between each element of the array in order to improve the antenna matching over a wide frequency band. The strength points of the presented Connected Vivaldi array are: wideband functionality, high efficiency, high gain, wide scanning capabilities, low manufacturing costs and simple assembly. The comparison between simulations and measurements shows very close correspondence.