Single elliptical loaded strip antipodal Vivaldi antenna (SELS-AVA)

A method for fabricating a single elliptical loaded strip antipodal Vivaldi antenna (SELS-AVA), comprising:

• obtaining a substrate including a top side, a bottom side, a first edge, a second edge parallel to the first edge, a third edge perpendicular to the first edge and the second edge, and a fourth edge parallel to the third edge, a first central axis which extends from the first edge to the second edge, and a second central axis which extends from the third edge to the fourth edge;
• fabricating, by a metallization process:
• a first elliptical flare on the top side between the third edge and the first central axis, wherein the first elliptical flare has a minor axis of length fr1 and a major axis of length fr2;
• a first microstrip feedline having a first end connected to the first elliptical flare, wherein the first microstrip feedline is configured to extend from the second central axis to the second edge and has a length centered on the first central axis;
• a second elliptical flare on the bottom side between the first central axis and the fourth edge, wherein the second elliptical flare is a mirror image of the first elliptical flare;
• a second microstrip feedline having a first end connected to the second elliptical flare, wherein the second microstrip feedline is configured to extend from the second central axis towards the second edge and has a length centered on the first central axis;
• a base structure connected to a second end of the second microstrip feedline;
• a first elliptical conducting strip connected to the first elliptical flare, wherein the first elliptical conducting strip is located between the third edge and the first central axis and between the second central axis and the second edge, wherein the first elliptical conducting strip has a minor axis of length ar1 and a major axis of length ar2;
• and
• a second elliptical conducting strip connected to the second elliptical flare, wherein the second elliptical conducting strip is a mirror image of the first elliptical conducting strip, wherein the second elliptical conducting strip is located between the first central axis and the fourth edge and between the second central axis and the second edge;
• a feed port having a positive terminal and a negative terminal such that the positive terminal is connected to a second end of the first microstrip feedline and the negative terminal is connected to the base,
• wherein the length ar1 is about 46% of the length fr1 and the length ar2 is about 88% of the length fr2,
• wherein a length between the first edge and the second edge is about 0.359 λL mm and a width between the third edge and the fourth edge is about 0.312 λL mm, where λL is a lower cut-off frequency of about 0.69 GHz of the SELS-AVA, and causing the SELS-AVA to radiate at the lower cut-off frequency λL of about 0.69 GHz by applying an electrical signal to the feed port,
• wherein fabricating comprises one of:
• a printing process which uses conductive ink;
• and
• etching a first layer formed of the metallic material which covers the top side of the substrate and etching a second layer formed of the metallic material which covers the bottom side of the substrate.