Ultra-Wideband High-Efficiency Dual-Polarized Conformal Phase Array for Wireless Power Transfer

Abstract

In this letter, a novel methodology to remove the common-mode resonance of tightly coupled arrays using two-set unit cell and conformal operation is presented, whereby the ultra-wideband dual-polarized conformal phase array is developed with high efficiency for wireless power transfer applications. Initially, a design method to shift the common-mode resonance of a tightly coupled array outside of the operating band using two-set unit cell and conformal operation is described, and a dual-polarized two-set unit cell of infinite array is proposed with ultra-wideband operation. Subsequently, the 8 × 8 dual-polarized two-set unit cells are designed to conform a cylindrical surface with a radius of 200 mm (1.3λ), resulting in a cylindrical-conformal tightly coupled array. Ultimately, an experimental prototype of the obtained conformal array was manufactured and measured. It achieves an operated bandwidth of 2.2∼12.4 GHz (5.6:1) with active VSWRs < 3.0 within ±60° scanning range in E-/H-planes and the average efficiency > 70% for dual-polarized operation. The good correspondence between the measured results and the simulated results illustrates the feasibility of the presented conformal array. Such a balanced high-performance conformal phase array provides a perfect solution for wireless power transfer systems of various maneuverable platforms.