Low-cost flat antennas for mobile and wireless communications

A class of flat antenna arrays that uses multi-layer printed circuit technology offers several advantages that make them attractive for mobile and wireless communications. Lower profile and lighter weight are among the desirable features. This paper surveys the applications that may use this type of antenna and reviews some of the developments for consumer terminals in a number of mobile and wireless communications systems. The first example is for a Ku-band briefcase mobile terminal in a code-division multiple access (CDMA) system in which interference due to high sidelobes can be tolerated. Two realizations of the transmit/receive antenna are discussed. The second example is for a briefcase mobile terminal at S-band for the INSAT satellite system. The third example is at Ka-band where considerable interest exists for local multimedia distribution systems (LMDS) and a number of emerging satellite systems that are planned.