Meta Title: Custom 9–10 GHz Fan-Beam Antenna | Cut Parabolic Reflector Design
Meta Description: Explore a custom 9–10 GHz cut parabolic reflector antenna developed by ZTS Technologies, featuring ≥26 dB gain, narrow azimuth beamwidth, wide elevation coverage, and flexible WR90 or N-type RF interfaces.
A Custom Antenna Solution for Fan-Shaped Beam Coverage
Not every microwave antenna application requires a conventional pencil beam.
For systems that need a narrow beam in one plane and wider coverage in the other, a fan-beam antenna can provide a more suitable radiation pattern.
ZTS Technologies recently developed a customized 9–10 GHz cut parabolic reflector antenna designed specifically to generate a fan-shaped beam pattern.
The antenna combines a high-gain parabolic reflector structure with a specially configured aperture to provide:
· Frequency range: 9–10 GHz
· Gain: ≥26 dB
· Azimuth beamwidth: ≤3°
· Elevation beamwidth: ≥10°
· Azimuth sidelobe level: ≤-20 dB
· Elevation sidelobe level: ≤-15 dB
· VSWR: ≤1.5
This combination provides concentrated radiation in the azimuth direction while maintaining broader coverage in elevation.
Why Use a Cut Parabolic Reflector?
A conventional parabolic reflector is well known for producing high gain and a relatively narrow directional beam.
However, some applications do not require the same beamwidth in both planes.
For this project, the reflector was designed with an approximately 800 × 100 mm cut aperture. Together with the front-feed arrangement, the reflector produces an asymmetric radiation pattern with a narrow azimuth beam and wider elevation beam.
The result is a fan-shaped beam rather than a conventional symmetrical pencil beam.
This type of radiation pattern can be particularly useful when RF energy needs to be concentrated along one direction while covering a larger angular area in another.
Narrow Azimuth Beam, Wider Elevation Coverage
One of the key design targets was the difference between the two principal beam planes.
The antenna achieves an azimuth beamwidth of ≤3°, providing strong directional characteristics horizontally.
At the same time, the elevation beamwidth is ≥10°, creating substantially wider vertical coverage.
This asymmetric beam pattern can be useful for applications such as:
· Microwave monitoring and measurement systems
· Directional RF transmission and reception
· Test and instrumentation systems
· Radar-related equipment
· Communication and telemetry systems
· Specialized industrial microwave systems
· Research and laboratory applications
The antenna can also be customized according to the required operating frequency, beamwidth, gain, mechanical envelope and RF interface.
Flexible WR90 and N-Type Interface Design
RF interface flexibility was another important consideration in the antenna design.
The antenna is based on a WR90 waveguide feed, with a standard waveguide size of 22.86 × 10.16 mm.
More importantly, the RF interface is designed with a detachable waveguide-to-coaxial transition.
This allows two possible system configurations.
N-Type Coaxial Interface
A waveguide-to-coaxial adapter can be installed to provide an N-type coaxial connection.
This configuration makes integration easier when the customer’s RF system uses coaxial cables, amplifiers, test equipment or other coaxial components.
Direct WR90 Waveguide Interface
If the system is later configured for direct waveguide transmission, the coaxial transition can simply be removed.
The antenna can then connect directly through its WR90 waveguide interface.
This modular concept gives system designers greater flexibility and reduces the need to redesign the antenna if the RF interface changes during system development.
Mechanical Design for Practical System Integration
In addition to RF performance, mechanical integration is an important part of a custom antenna project.
The antenna uses an aluminum structure with:
· Reflector aperture: approximately 800 × 100 mm
· Overall dimensions: approximately 800 × 240 × 500 mm
· Material: Aluminum
· Surface treatment: Chromate conversion coating
· Finish: Anti-corrosion grey paint
The reflector, feed structure, mounting arrangement and RF interface can all be adapted according to the installation requirements of the final system.
Custom Antenna Development at ZTS
Many antenna requirements cannot be fully addressed by standard off-the-shelf products.
Operating frequency is only one part of the specification. In practical applications, customers may also have specific requirements for:
· Beamwidth
· Gain
· Sidelobe level
· Polarization
· RF interface
· Waveguide type
· Mechanical dimensions
· Mounting arrangement
· Environmental protection
· Surface treatment
For these projects, ZTS works with customers from the initial technical requirements through RF and mechanical design to prototype development and production.
The 9–10 GHz fan-beam antenna shown here is one example of how a reflector structure, feed system and RF interface can be customized around a specific radiation-pattern requirement.
Need a Custom Fan-Beam or Microwave Antenna?
If your application requires a custom microwave antenna, especially where beamwidth, gain, interface or mechanical dimensions cannot be satisfied by a standard antenna, ZTS Technologies can evaluate the requirement and develop a suitable solution.
To begin an evaluation, customers can provide:
· Required frequency range
· Gain
· Azimuth and elevation beamwidth
· Sidelobe requirements
· Polarization
· RF input interface
· Mechanical size limitations
· Mounting requirements
· Environmental requirements
Our engineering team can then review the requirements and propose an appropriate antenna structure.
Contact ZTS Technologies to discuss your custom RF, microwave or mmWave antenna requirement.
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