Linear Tapered Slot Antenna for Ultra-Wideband Radar Sensor: Design Consideration and Recommendation

Radar is a type of wireless, noncontact sensor that does not need to be placed on or near a test object for detection. A key component of any radar sensor is the antenna. Among different types of antennas, the linear tapered slot antenna (LTSA) is a wideband antenna that has the advantages of small size, design simplicity, and easy adaptation to an array. This study examined and analyzed the 10 primary parameters that define the LTSA design when operated in the ultra-wideband (UWB) frequency range. The study method involved varying each of the 10 parameters to discern how the variations impact the three critical characteristics of an antenna, namely, (1) return loss, (2) the far field radiation pattern on the E-plane, and (3) the far field radiation pattern on the H-plane. By analyzing the changes in these critical characteristics, a set of design recommendations for the 10 parameters was developed for the LTSA.