Intelligent metasurface based antenna with pattern and beam reconfigurability for internet of things applications

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) devices are distributed randomly in the environment, antennas with multiple switched beams are needed to unlock the full potential of communication systems. This paper presents an intelligent metasurface (IMS) based pattern and beam reconfigurable antenna for indoor as well as outdoor IoT applications including V2X and 5 G Small Cell. The IMS based antenna system consists of a wideband monopole and a programable IMS acting as a reflector. The single–layered metasurface is comprised of 4×4 square ring-shaped unit, where each unit cell can be controlled by a pair of four diodes. Due to the separate control of each unit cell, the shape and size of the reflector can be controlled, resulting in different radiation patterns. The system offers various radiation patterns, starting from omni–directional to broadside, with single or dual beams, along with beam–steering both in elevation and azimuth plane. The antenna system offers a peak gain up to 8.89 dBi with an operational bandwidth of 4.95–7.6 GHz. To validate the design concept, the system is fabricated and tested. A microcontroller is utilized for the switching IMS configuration. The high agreement between simulated and measured results, combined with the low profile, high gain, pattern–beam reconfigurability make the proposed antenna a suitable candidate for the indoor IoT devices along with outdoor application not limited to V2X communication systems as well as for small cell in smart cities.