Proceedings of ISAP2012, Nagoya, Japan

3C1-1

A Compact 8-Element Antenna Array for GPS

Digital Beamforming
#
Lu Guo, Peng-Khiang Tan and Tan-Huat Chio
Temasek Laboratories, National University of Singapore,
T-Lab Building, 5A, Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411
Email: [email protected]

1. Introduction
The low broadcast power of the GPS satellites makes signals particularly susceptible to
interference and therefore GPS antennas with capability to mitigate interference are highly desirable
[1]. One of the effective approaches against interference can be realised by the use of Controlled
Radiation Pattern Antennas (CRPAs) [2]. Existing CRPA GPS arrays typically have a circular
aperture with one reference element located at the centre and other auxiliary elements inscribe the
circumference of the aperture. These auxiliary elements combine with the central element to form
pattern nulls in the direction of interfering signals. These shaped patterns enhance the system
robustness in the presence of strong radio frequency sources [3]. A key factor in the array
performance is the number of auxiliary elements. More elements meant that a null can be steered in
the direction of interference more precisely, thereby improving the overall signal-to-noise ratio
(SNR). It also enables more flexibility in placing nulls on interfering sources [4]. For small
platforms, the aperture available for the array is limited and therefore it is advantageous to design a
compact array. In this paper, an 8-element antenna array for GPS digital beamforming has been
proposed and developed.

In this case, the ubiquitous microstrip patch is selected. The size of individual antenna elements is
reduced by using a high dielectric substrate. The U-slot etched on the patch reduces the size further.
This will enable more antenna elements to be clustered closer together in the same array footprint.
However, the miniaturisation of antenna arrays becomes a challenging issue because of high mutual
coupling between the radiating elements when they are clustered closer together. The simulated and
measured results show that each antenna element can achieve a 20 MHz 10-dB active impedance
bandwidth at L1 (1.575 GHz) band and reasonable radiation properties are obtained, i.e. good axial
ratio performance and desirable radiation patterns.

2. Antenna Design and Performance

The objective of our study is to develop a miniaturised GPS antenna array for digital
beamforming with following desired specifications:

1. 20-MHz 10-dB active impedance bandwidth at L1 band (1.575 GHz) on each element;

2. 20-MHz 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth at L1 band on each element;

3. RHCP radiation on each element;

4. Broad beamwidth to avoid degradation in performance for low-elevation satellite.

In this study, truncated U-slot patches are employed as the array elements and the proposed 8-
element GPS antenna array design is illustrated in Fig. 1. The array has a circular aperture with
15cm diameter. One centre element is surrounded by seven auxiliary elements in the array layout. A

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 shielding wall enclosing the centre element is introduced to decrease coupling to the other elements.
Furthermore, element 2 is rotated with a certain angle to realise a good matching and axial ratio.

(a) (b)
Figure 1: Proposed GPS 8-element antenna array design (a) geometry and (b) truncated U-slot patch

A prototype of the GPS 8-element antenna array which is simulated by HFSS was fabricated. This
is shown in Fig. 2-(a). The return losses were tested by using an Agilent N5244A network analyser
and the radiation pattern measurements were carried out inside an anechoic chamber, as shown in
Fig. 2-(b).

(a) (b)
Figure 2: (a) Prototype of the GPS 8-element antenna array and (b) Far field measurement setup

The simulated and the measured active return loss curves of GPS 8-element antenna array are
displayed in Fig. 3. It is shown that the simulation and the measurement agree reasonably well and
each element can cover a 10-dB 1.565 GHz – 1.585 GHz bandwidth.
0 0
0
-5 -5
-5
-10 -10
-10
-15 -15
-15
Return Loss, dB
Return Loss, dB
Return Loss, dB

-20 -20
-20
-25 -25
-25

-30 -30
-30

-35 -35 -35

-40 -40 -40

-45 Measured -45 Measured -45 Measured

Simulated Simulated Simulated
-50 -50 -50
1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

(a) (b) (c)

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 0 0
0

-5 -5 -5

-10 -10 -10

-15 -15 -15

Return Loss, dB
Return Loss, dB

Return Loss, dB
-20 -20 -20

-25 -25 -25

-30 -30 -30

-35 -35 -35

-40 -40 -40

-45 Measured -45 Measured -45 Measured

Simulated Simulated Simulated
-50 -50 -50
1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

(d) (e) (f)

0 0

-5 -5

-10 -10

-15 -15

Return Loss, dB
Return Loss, dB

-20 -20

-25 -25

-30 -30

-35 -35

-40 -40

-45 Measured -45 Measured

Simulated Simulated
-50 -50
1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

(g) (h)
Figure 3: Simulated and measured active return loss curves of eight elements (a) element 1 (b)
element 2 (c) element 3 (d) element 4 (e) element 5 (f) element 6 (g) element 7 and (h) element 8

Fig. 4 depicts the simulated and measured axial ratio curves of each element at the boresight. Again,
it is observed that the simulated results and measured results agree reasonably well. The
discrepancies may be due to the fabrication tolerance and the material property variation. It is also
noticed that most elements can meet a 4-dB 1.565 GHz – 1.585 GHz axial ratio bandwidth.
5 5 5

4 4 4
Axial Ratio, dB

Axial Ratio, dB

Axial Ratio, dB

3 3 3

2 2 2

1 1 1
Measured Measured Measured
Simulated Simulated Simulated
0 0 0
1.565 1.57 1.575 1.58 1.585 1.565 1.57 1.575 1.58 1.585 1.565 1.57 1.575 1.58 1.585
Frequency, GHz Frequency, GHz Frequency, GHz

(a) (b) (c)

5 5 5.5
5
4 4 4.5
4
Axial Ratio, dB

Axial Ratio, dB

Axial Ratio, dB

3.5
3 3
3
2.5
2 2
2
1.5
1 1 1
Measured Measured Measured
Simulated 0.5 Simulated
Simulated
0 0 0
1.565 1.57 1.575 1.58 1.585 1.565 1.57 1.575 1.58 1.585 1.565 1.57 1.575 1.58 1.585
Frequency, GHz Frequency, GHz Frequency, GHz

(d) (e) (f)

5 3

2.5
4

2
Axial Ratio, dB
Axial Ratio, dB

3
1.5
2
1

1 0.5
Measured Measured
Simulated Simulated
0 0
1.565 1.57 1.575 1.58 1.585 1.565 1.57 1.575 1.58 1.585
Frequency, GHz Frequency, GHz

(g) (h)
Figure 4: Simulated and measured axial ratio curves of eight elements (a) element 1 (b) element 2
(c) element 3 (d) element 4 (e) element 5 (f) element 6 (g) element 7 and (h) element 8

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 Fig. 5 plots both simulated and measured RHCP and LHCP radiation patterns. For brevity, only the
patterns of element 1 at 1.575 GHz are shown here. It can be seen that the RHCP patterns exhibit a
broad coverage on the top hemisphere.
5

-5

-10

Gain, dB -15

-20

Measured RHCP pattern

-25 Measured LHCP pattern
Simulated RHCP pattern
Simulated LHCP pattern
-30
-80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80
Elevation, degree

Figure 5: Simulated and measured radiation patterns of element 1 at 1.575 GHz

3. Conclusions
A compact 8-element antenna array has been designed and fabricated, targeted for GPS
application. The prototype array achieves the required return loss and axial ratio bandwidth as well
as desirable radiation patterns on each element. A reasonable agreement is achieved between the
simulation and the measurement.

References
[1] D. Reynolds and A. Brown, “Miniaturized GPS Antenna Array Technology and Predicted Anti-
Jam Performance,” ION GPS’99, 14-17 September 1999, Nashville, TN.
[2] J. Maloney, B. Baker, J. Acree, J. Schultz, J. Little and D. Reuster, “Fragmented Aperture
Antenna Design of Miniaturized GPS CRPA: Model and Measurements”, 2007 IEEE AP-S
International Symposium on Antenna and Propagation, Honolulu, HI, USA, 9-15 June, 2007.
[3] A. Brown and D. Morley, “Test Results of a 7-Element Small Controlled Reception Pattern
Antenna”, Proceedings of ION GPS 2001, Salt Lake City, Utah, September 2001.
[4] H. Tseng and Atterberg, “Small Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (S-CRPA) Design and
Test Results,” Proceedings of 26th ISDE Conference, Ventura County, CA, October 2000.

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