Resonant cavity antenna arrays: performance investigation and characterization

This thesis investigates the feasibility of developing wideband resonant cavity antennas (RCAs) to achieve ETSI Class-2 antenna requirements for operation in 21.2-23.6 GHz frequency band. Commercially available Class-2 reflector antennas have strict requirements to conform to the suitable radiation pattern envelope (RPE) specifications, as set by the regulatory bodies. Despite excellent performance of commercial Class-2 compliant antennas, a major geometrical constraint prevails due to their non-planar, complex, multi-piece and bulky structures. RCAs on the other hand, are well known for their simple and planar configurations. With rapid advancements in modern wireless technologies, RCAs have found numerous applications from indoor personal communications to wireless sensor networks, and from point-to-point communications to satellite reception. This thesis investigates the possibility of developing wideband and high-gain resonant cavity antenna arrays (RCAAs), to combine the advantages of low-cost, planar configuration with high efficiency and compactness.