SBIR-STTR Award

Scientific Technology, Inc. proposes to study suitable fabrication techniques and substrate materials for the development of wide band multi-layer microstrip antennas to be used on next generation artillery proximity fuzes. The antennas have broader bandwidth as compared to the single layer microstrip antennas. Tolerance study will be performed to predict amount of performance change, e.g. beam pattern and return loss, due to tolerance in the design parameters such as patch dimensions and dielectric constants. In Phase I, Scientific Technology Inc. will prepare a preliminary antenna design and provide the detailed tolerance specifications for the development of fabrication and testing of such antenna in Phase II.

Benefits:
Successful development of low cost production of a multi-layer mircrostrip patch antenna will find its ample use in many antenna systems, such as spacecrafts, earth stations, proximity fuzes and terrestrial links. Because of its light weight, compact, and low profile features, a low cost multi-layer microstrip antenna can replace many conventional wide band antennas.

Keywords:
Antenna Microstip Multilayer Bonding Substrate Radiation Pattern

Feasibility studies including analyses and experiments performed in Phase I indicted that there is a suitable technique for producing small multi-layer wide band microstrip patch antennas for an artillery proximity fuze application. In Phase n, Scientific Technology, Inc. will continue the effort to develop low cost and reliable fabrication techniques for the wide band multi-layer microstrip antennas (MLMA). A theoretical model based on full-wave analysis method will be evaluated for the prediction of the antenna performance, including radiation pattern, return loss, and antenna efficiently. A tolerance study will then be performed using the software to predict performance variations due to manufacturing variations which in turn aid in the choice of a manufacturing process. STI will demonstrate the feasibility of achieving low cost production using a thermal stable substrate identified in Phase I. Successful development of the multi-layer antenna will benefit not only the proximity fuze program but other DoD programs which require use of wide band, broad beam antennas. The software can also save development time and labor for other DoD antenna and microwave developmental programs.