Waveguide Slot Array with Code-Division Multiplexing Function for Single RF Chain Digital Beamforming

Abstract

This study presents a novel waveguide slot array with a code-division multiplexing function for single RF chain digital beamforming. The proposed antenna is comprised of a rectangular metallic waveguide's bottom part and a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) with the rectangular waveguide's top wall and slot apertures. Multiple pairs of two symmetric longitudinal slots are etched on the metal surface of the PCB, and a PIN diode is mounted across each slot. The received signals of each slot pair are multiplexed in a code-division multiplexing fashion by switching the diodes' bias according to the Walsh Hadamard code, and the original signals are then recovered through a despreading process in the digital domain for digital beamforming. A prototype antenna with eight slot pairs has been fabricated and tested for proof of concept. The measured results show the feasibility of the proposed antenna.