Evaluation of a single-input multiple-output antenna array for ultra-wide band applications

Emerging applications for ultra-wide band (UWB) systems require high performance UWB array systems with excellent characteristics duly verified in time and frequency domains. Thus, we propose an UWB antipodal tapered slot antenna (ATSA) linear array operating over a 2-12 GHz band, and present an experimental setup to validate the performance of the single-input, four-element output UWB antenna array system using time- and frequency-domain analysis based on vector network analyzer (VNA) measurements. The time-domain analysis of UWB antenna array is indispensable since each array element uses a wideband instead of a narrowband signal. We characterize the proposed array using an ultra-short pulse of 50 ps. All measurements are done in an anechoic chamber to avoid multipath reflections. Our experimental work on time-domain analysis is a step towards realizing a practical timed array-based UWB test-bed for validating system performances in real conditions with practical impairments.