A Dual-band Slotted Waveguide Antenna Array for

Radars Applications
I. F. da Costa1,2, R. A. Santos1, S. C. Patricio1, J. A. J. Ribeiro1, D. H. Spadoti2, A. Bogoni3 and Arismar Cerqueira S. Jr.1
1
Laboratory WOCA (Wireless and Optical Convergent Access), National Institute of Telecommunications, Santa Rita do
Sapucai-MG, Brazil.
2
Federal University of Itajub, Av. BPS 1303, Itajub, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
3
Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni (CNIT), Pisa, Italy.

Abstract This paper describes the design and fabrication of operation with software-defined frequency adaptation radar
a novel dual-band slotted waveguide antenna array for radar systems [6]. The proposed antenna has slots milled into two
applications. The radiation structure is composed by two groups opposite faces of a rectangular waveguide; each slot group
of slots, milled into the rectangular waveguide in opposite faces, radiated over a different frequency band, as illustrated in the
enabling the antenna operation over two different frequency
numerical simulation presented in Fig. 1.
bands. Using this innovative structure becomes possible to
perform diverse sorts of tracking using a unique structure for
different radar applications, such as maritime navigation,
surveillance and communications. Numerical results were
obtained by ANSYS HFSS and measurements demonstrate two
operational bandwidths over the S- and C-frequency bands. The
antenna gain varies from 14.41dBi to 17.64dBi at 2.25GHz and
4.91GHz, respectively.

KeywordsDual-band antenna; Slotted waveguide antenna

array; Surveillance radar.

I. INTRODUCTION
Surveillance radars system has become an essential
technology for all countries, assisting in the control
maintenance over the air, sea and land spaces. Nowadays,
radars have been widely used for border control, identifying
possible territorial invasions or illegal activities such as drug
trafficking. This technology must provide two principal pieces
of information [1]: distance and identification of the target.
As soon as the radio waves reach the target, part of the
signal will be absorbed and other part will be reflected,
depending on the target material. The scattered wave is going
to be sensing by the radar antenna and this information will
define what and where exactly the target is. The radar
operation strongly depends on the radio frequency and
material type, interacting differently with the environment,
identifying different materials and different characteristics on
a target [2]. Therefore the surveillance systems should cover
different operating frequencies, thus being able to acquire a
greater amount of information on a particular region [1].
Commercial radar antennas typically provide narrow
bandwidths, favoring the high gain requirements. However,
radars based on them suffer with high noise at increasing
frequency [3]. The next generation systems need to be multi-
or dual-band in order to be adaptable depending on the radio
mobile environment [4, 5].
This work proposes the concept of a novel slotted
waveguide antenna array (SWAA), presented in Fig.1, which
provides two operational bandwidths while maintaining high
gain. The structure radiates over two different frequencies
bands at the same time enables to sense different targets with
the same device, reducing costs, size and allowing the
Fig. 1. The proposed dual-band slotted-waveguide antenna array radiation
patterns at different frequencies.
The remainder of this manuscript is organized as follows.
Section II presents the new concept of a dual-band slotted
waveguide antenna array, whereas Section III presents the
antenna numerical results, its prototype and experimental
characterization. Conclusions and future works are addressed
in Section IV.
II. THE DUAL-BAND SLOTTED WAVEGUIDE ANTENNA ARRAY
CONCEPT
Slotted waveguide antenna arrays are usually used in radars
applications, in which design specifications require high gains
and mechanical robustness [1]. Metallic waveguides are low-
loss structures and, additionally, can handle high power levels,
due to the extremely high peak power transmitted by radar
systems, these antennas have been widely used instead of
planar arrays. SWAAs offer significant advantages in terms of
weight, volume and radiation characteristics [7]. Moreover,
these antennas are attractive due to their planar, compact and
rugged construction. The proposed antenna design is
composed of a waveguide with slots milled into its broad face
wall, presenting radiating elements integrated to its structure,
eliminating the need for baluns and impedance matching
networks. These slots introduce discontinuities in the
conductor and interrupt the flow of current along the
waveguide; the electromagnetic wave inside the antenna will
excite each slot, propagating into the air [8, 9].
Basically, there are two types of SWAAs depending on the
propagation characteristics inside the waveguide: traveling
wave and standing wave antennas. In a standing-wave SWAA,
the waveguide end is short-circuited, thus the antenna acts as a
resonator with the guided wave traveling in both directions
propagating through the slots and bouncing back and forth
between the ends of the antenna [10]. On the other hand, in a
traveling wave antenna, the waveguide is constructed with
matched RF load or absorbers at its end. It will consume the
rest of the energy that was not transmitted through the slots, so
the guided wave propagating through the slots just in one
direction.
The main advantage for the standing over the traveling-
wave is the propagation efficiency. As the second technique
losses a portion of the guided signal consumed in the matched
load, the other one uses the reflected signal on the end of the
waveguide. To achieve this feature the structure will be more
complex, ensuring the bounced signal interacts constructively
with the portion of the energy already radiated. To do so, the
distance between the last slot and the end of the antenna
should be given by [11]:
g to 2.25 and 4.91GHz, respectively. The slot size and inter-slot
X (1)
4
where is the guided wavelength.
Another advantage is in the reception operation. A portion
of the received signal will be lost at the matched loaded in the
traveling-wave structure. In the standing-wave structure, the
bounced signal will reach the receiver as well. Due to these all
reasons, the standing wave antenna array had been considered
in our project.
The proposed approach is aimed to enable simultaneous
operation over S- and C-bands, making necessary the use of
two different slot groups, one for each operation frequency
band and milled on each broad side face of the waveguide.
Fig. 2a shows side view of the slots designed for S-band. The
signal will pass through the slots and propagates; the
remaining energy will reflect in the end of the waveguide and
will be constructively propagated with the earlier wave
portion. The same behavior will happen for the other side, C-
band, as presented in Fig. 2b. Fig. 2c presents the proposed
feeding structure that allows to simultaneously using two
frequency bands by only one probe.
a) Slots for S-band.
b) Slots for C-band.
c) Feeding structure view
Fig. 2. Dual-band slotted waveguide antenna array.
The proposed SWAA has been designed in order to provide
two resonances: one below 2.4GHz (centered at 2.25GHz) and
other centered at 4.91GHz. Its whole structure has been
designed based on the procedures published by Elliot [11] and
optimized using ANSYS HFSS. Its final parameters are: X1 =
31.5mm, X2 = 16.5mm, S1 = 63mm, S2 = 33mm, Z =
19.52mm, Fp = 50mm, a = 78.1mm, b = 39.05mm, t = 5mm,
P1 = 40mm.
The probe size was numerically optimized, using HFSS, to
reach a broadband response; the P1 parameter defines its
length. The slot sizes are defined by S1 and S2 and correspond,
space has the same value and are defined by [11]:
g
S (2)
2
where S is the slot size or inter-slot space.
The distance between the last slot center and the waveguide
end are defined by X1 and X2 and they are given by Eq. 1. As
mentioned before, Z is the distance between the slot and the
center of the antenna and Fp is the distance between the probe
and the beginning of the SWAA structure. The latter
parameter is very important for the antenna impedance
matching and was also optimized using HFSS.
III. ANTENNA PROTOTYPE
This section presents the fabricated SWAA prototype, Fig.
3a and b, and its numerical and measurements results.
Initially, the frequency response of the novel slotted
waveguide antenna array has been measured and compared to
its numerical simulations, as shown in Fig. 4. The antenna
bandwidths are defined as the frequency ranges in which the
reflection coefficient (S11) is lower or equal to -10dB.
The proposed SWAA provides many resonances; six of
them present S11 than -10dB, and thus this antenna provides
six narrow bandwidths. The two most important ones, aimed
during the antenna design, are the following ones: the first
bandwidth of 8.3% from 2.1 to 2.3GHz; the second bandwidth
of 1.22 % centered at 4.91GHz. The feeding probe is very
critical and the difference observed in the simulated and
measured are probably due to imprecisions in the milling
process and imprecision in the probe structure. A small
difference in the probe thickness and length implied in a shift
of the 4.8GHz operation band to 4.91GHz.

a) Both sides waveguide views

b) Size comparison
Fig. 3. Antenna prototype.

Fig. 5. Prototype on the rotation platform.

The constructed setup allows the antenna fixing in a

vertical position that enables the measurement of the elevation
plane, as reported in Fig. 6c. The measured gain at 2.25GHz is
14.1dBi very close to the numerical gain, which is 14.46dBi.
This gain difference of 3.54dB between the two principal
operational frequencies was foreseen and could be clearly
explained by the slots wavelengths. Since the operation
frequencies are more than twice of each other, the number of
slots is significantly different for the two operational bands,
namely: eleven slots for S-band and twenty-two slots for C-
Fig. 4. Reflection coefficient of the proposed SWAA.
band. For this reason, the gain for the higher frequency band is
expected to be at least 3dB higher than the low.
The next step in the antenna characterization was the
analysis of its radiation pattern. It was numerically evaluated
using HFSS and measured in the open field setup from
INATEl. Fig. 5 shows a photograph of the proposed dual-band
SWAA mounted on a rotating platform. Fig. 6 reports
simulated and experimental results of the SWAA radiation
pattern.
The proposed antenna provides broadside radiation for both
designed frequency bands. Fig. 6a shows the simulated
tridimensional radiation pattern for 2.25GHz with a maximum
gain of 14.46dBi. On the other hand, the simulated gain for
4.91GHz operation band goes up to 17.64dBi, as Fig.6b
presented.
The radiation pattern measurements were performed only
for the 2.25GHz frequency band, because the far-field region
for the 4.91GHz operation band is located at a distance that a) Simulated tridimensional pattern at 2.25GHz.
would make it impossible to have measurement accuracy with
the available pieces of equipment.

b) Simulated tridimensional pattern at 4.91GHz.
c) Measured radiation pattern in the elevation plane at 2.2GHz.
Fig. 6. The proposed SWAA radiation patterns.
IV. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORKS
A novel concept of a dual-band slotted waveguide antenna
array for radar applications has been successfully proposed,
numerically analyzed, constructed and experimentally
characterized. The antenna structure is based on two groups of
radiating slots in order to provide at least two frequency
bandwidths: the first one from 2.1 to 2.3GHz (8.3%) and
second one from 4.88 to 4.94GHz (1.22%), supplying the
requirements for surveillance radar systems. Furthermore, it
has been reported a measured gain of 14.1dBi at 2.25GHz and
a simulated gain of 17.64dBi at 4.91GHz.
The novel structure enables diverse sorts of tracking using
a unique structure by taking advantage of different radiation
patterns from two frequency bands. The antenna can operate
with the next generation surveillance radar systems using
software defined to switch over its two operational frequency
bands. Furthermore, the applications of the proposed SWAA
are not limited to surveillance and navigation radars, it can
also be applied to communications systems and the future
tracking and communications radars.
Future works regard improvements in the prototype,
mainly in the probe parameters that can significantly make all
the bandwidths wider by enhancing the impedance matching
over the two most important bandwidths. We also plan to
entirely characterize the antenna prototypes in the azimuth and
elevation planes for all bandwidths. Furthermore, it is aimed to
integrate the novel dual-band SWAA with our previous
developed photonic-assisted transceiver [6] and carry out real
radar experiments in the Port of Santos in the State of So
Paulo, Brazil. In this way, it is expected to achieve innovative
benefits in terms seamless integration of photonic and
microwave components, adaptive and flexibility
reconfiguration, and high data capacity.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was partially supported by Finep/Funttel Grant
No. 01.14.0231.00, under the Radio Communications
Reference Center (Centro de Referncia em
Radicomunicaes - CRR) project of the National Institute of
Telecommunications (Instituto Nacional de
Telecomunicaes - Inatel), Brazil. Authors also thank the
financial support from CNPq, CAPES, MCTI and FAPEMIG
and technical support from ESSS-ANSYS, Anritsu,
Keysight, and TIM.
REFERENCES
[1] M.L.Skolnik, Introduction to Radar Systems, 3a edition, 2002.
[2] I. F. da Costa, L. G. da Silva, J. F. Mologni, Arismar Cerqueira S. Jr.
Numerical investigation of airborne radars for remote sensing
applications., Microwave and Optical Technology Letters (Print), v. 56,
p. 1473-1478, 2014.
[3] F. Laghezza, F. Scotti, P. Ghelfi, A. Bogoni, S. Pinna, G. Serafino and
D. Onori, "Field trial of the first Photonic-Based Radar for Maritime
Border Security and Harbor Protection", 15th
International Radar Symposium, June, 2014.
[4] F. Laghezza, F. Scotti, P. Ghelfi, A. Bogoni, Photonics-Assisted Multi-
Band RF Transceiver for Wireless Communications, Journal of
Lightwave Technology, vol 32, pp. 2896- 2904, 2014.
[5] F. Scotti, F. Laghezza, P. Ghelfi, L. Valcarenghi, and A. Bogoni,
Wireless communications based on photonics-assisted multiband RF
transceiver., OptoElectronics and Communication Conference and
Australian Conference on Optical Fiber Technology, 2014.
[6] P Ghelfi, F. Laghezza, F. Scotti, G. Serafino, A. Capria, S. Pinna, D.
Onori, C. Porzi, M. Scaffardi, A. Malacarne, V. Vercesi, E. Lazzeri, F.
Berizzi and A. Bogoni, A fully photonics-based coherent radar
system, Nature photonics, vol. 507, pp. 341- 345, 2014.
[7] I. F. da Costa, Arismar Cerqueira S. Jr., L.G. Silva, D. H. Spadoti and A.
Bogoni, Tri-band Slotted Waveguide Antenna Array for Millimetric-
waves Applications, 8th European Conference on Antennas and
Propagation (EUCAP 2014), April, 2014.
[8] S. S. Sekretarov and D. M. Vavriv, A wideband slotted waveguide
antenna array for sar systems, Progress in electromagnetics research M,
vol. 11, pp. 165 176, 2010.
[9] S. Liao, J. Wang, Y. Chen, W. Tang, J. Wei, J.Xu and Z. Zhao and D.
M. Vavriv, Synthesis, simulation and experiment of unequally spaced
resonant slotted-waveguide antenna arrays based on the infinite
wavelength propagation property of composite right/left-handed
waveguide, IEEE Transactions on antennas and propagation, vol. 60,
pp. 3182 3194, July 2012.
[10] J.L. Volakis, Antenna Engineering Handbook, 4nd edition, 2007.
[11] Robert S. Elliot, L. A. Kurtz, "The design of small slot arrays," IEEE
Trans. Antennas Propagation, vol. AP-26, pp. 214-219, Mar. 1978.