Abstract This work presents the design, optimization, fabrication, and measurement of a 2 2 2 × 2 circularly polarized microstrip patch antenna array intended as an elementary radiator for 76–77 GHz MIMO radar prototype validation. Circular polarization (CP) is achieved using a sequential rotation phase technique with four linearly polarized patches arranged on a square grid and excited with 90^ 90 ∘ progressive phase shifts. Aperture-coupled feeding is employed to isolate the radiating patches from the feed network, enhancing pattern stability and impedance bandwidth. A series–parallel microstrip network is synthesized to deliver equal power to all elements with the required phase progression, using a 32. 5~ 32. 5 Ω quarter-wave transformer for 50~ 50 Ω input matching. The antenna is implemented on Rogers 3003 substrates with truncated-corner patches to improve axial ratio and matching. Measurements using a vector network analyzer (VNA) with mmWave frequency converters confirm a -10 - 10 dB impedance bandwidth of 10. 9 GHz, good matching at 76. 5 GHz (S₁₁ -23 S 11 ≈ - 23 dB), peak realized gain of 10. 9 dBi, and axial ratio below 3 dB over 74–77. 5 GHz at boresight. Radiation patterns exhibit broadside coverage with 40^ ∼ 40 ∘ half-power beamwidth in both principal planes, suitable for imaging radar. Sensitivity analysis shows robust performance against feed-line width tolerances and 0. 1 ± 0. 1 variations in substrate permittivity, with maintained gain and circular polarization across the target band. The results validate the proposed element as a compact, peak realized gain of 10. 9 dBi at 76. 5 GHz, as a compact CP radiator for MIMO antenna array prototype measurements and anechoic chamber validation.
Mohamed et al. (Wed,) studied this question.