Design of a planar array transponder with broad responding beam

Abstract

A new planar array transponder, including four active receiving-transmitting microstrip antenna pairs, were demonstrated by using the Van Atta array design. The fields retransmitted by all the antenna pairs spatially combine in the wave-incidence direction while interfere with each other in other directions, so that the transponder responds the signal only to the on-line interrogator. The measured 10 dB (5 dB) responding beamwidth for the array transponder is 106 degrees(80 degrees), which is approximately the same as that of a transponder with a single antenna pair. Also, the measured radar cross section (RCS) patterns for the transponder at the on state (with bias) and off state (without bias) were compared. More than 20-dB difference between the patterns of these two states has been observed.