A Technique of Scan Blindness Elimination for Planar Phased Array Antenna using Miniaturized EBG

In this paper, the planar phased array antenna scan blindness characteristic has been analyzed and a novel technique of eliminating the scan blindness for the phased array antenna has been introduced. The scan blindness of the center element has been used to present the entire phased array characteristic. The array scan blindness characteristics have been simulated and analyzed using CST Microwave Studio (CST MWS). The 5×3 planar phased array antenna radiation patterns against the pattern elevation angle direction has been simulated and compiled. The array’s scan blindness has been determined at the angle of approximately 47⁰. The miniaturized capacitive loaded Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) has been developed and introduced between the array elements to eliminate the problem. Based on the simulated results, it is shown that the use of a miniaturized EBG is effective in reducing the surface wave effects and eliminates the scan blindness in the array radiation pattern. This novel finding is very useful to improve the antenna directive efficiency for the directional radar and satellite application.