Series-Fed Coupled Split-Ring Resonator Array Antenna With Wide Fan-Beam and Low Sidelobe Level for Millimeter-Wave Automotive Radar

Abstract

This paper proposes a millimeter-wave series-fed coupled split-ring resonator array (SCSRRA) antenna with a wide fan-beam pattern and low sidelobe level (SLL) for automotive radar. The proposed array antenna has the advantages of low cost, low profile, and low manufacturing difficulty. The proposed array antenna uses a split-ring resonator as a radiating element coupled from a microstrip line. The split-ring resonator has the advantage of suppressing cross-polarization due to feed phase errors. To reduce the surface wave through the ground edges and enhance the beamwidth, we added the mushroom-shaped electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure. Amplitude tapering to reduce the SLL was implemented by adjusting the distance between each element and the microstrip line. The prototype SCSRRA antennas operating at 79 GHz were fabricated, and the characteristics of the wide fan-beam pattern and low SLL were experimentally verified.