Abstract
This paper presents a practical demonstration for the design and development of a switchable planar reflectarray using PIN diodes in the X-band frequency range. Waveguide scattering parameter measurements for the unit cells and far-field measurements of the periodic reflectarrays have been carried out to verify the predicted results. Reflectarray unit cell measurements demonstrated a frequency tunability of 0.36 GHz with a dynamic phase range of 226°. On the other hand, the designed 6 × 6 periodic reflectarray has been shown to achieve beam switching from +6° to −6° with different switching states of PIN diodes. This type of beam switching can be used in satellite communication for specific region coverage.
Highlights
Reflectarray is principally a planar reflector which consists of an array of resonant microstrip patch elements printed on a dielectric substrate and is illuminated by a feed horn
Researchers have investigated different techniques for beam steering antennas such as the use of nonlinear dielectric materials [7,8,9], the integration of Radio Frequency Microelectro Mechanical Systems (RF MEMS) as switches [10, 11], loading varactor diodes with the patch elements and varying the varactor capacitance by using various biasing [12, 13], using aperture coupled elements where the tuning circuit can be located on the nonresonating surface of the element in order to control the contributed phase from each element [14], and using mechanical movement of the antenna [15]
International Journal of Antennas and Propagation diodes have been used for beam switching in reflectarrays demonstrated through simulations and measurements of unit cells, as well as periodic arrays. e reflectarray unit cells comprise of an optimum performance single layer structure having printed patch elements with incorporated slot and gap configurations. e proposed design demonstrates a simple structure with reduced chances of mutual coupling between the adjacent elements of reflectarray
Summary
Reflectarray is principally a planar reflector which consists of an array of resonant microstrip patch elements printed on a dielectric substrate and is illuminated by a feed horn. E reflected beam can be directed in the desired direction, which makes a reflectarray capable of achieving a wide-angle electronic beam scanning Such a beam-forming approach can have many advantages over traditional tunable antenna array architectures, including a significant reduction in hardware required per element and increased efficiency [6]. Some other researchers have proposed the use of PIN diodes for beam switching where the diodes can be switched ON and OFF using an external biasing circuit, and the reflectarray beam can be controlled [16,17,18,19] Most of these works propose complex multilayer design topology using various dielectric substrates. International Journal of Antennas and Propagation diodes have been used for beam switching in reflectarrays demonstrated through simulations and measurements of unit cells, as well as periodic arrays. e reflectarray unit cells comprise of an optimum performance single layer structure having printed patch elements with incorporated slot and gap configurations. e proposed design demonstrates a simple structure with reduced chances of mutual coupling between the adjacent elements of reflectarray
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