Abstract
We review mechanically reconfigurable reflectarray (RA) and transmitarray (TA) antennas. We categorize the proposed approaches into three major groups followed by a hybrid category that is made up of a combination of the three major approaches. We discuss the examples in each category and compare their performance metrics including aperture efficiency, gain, bandwidth and scanning range and resolution. We also identify opportunities to build upon or extend these demonstrated approaches to realize further advances in antenna performance.
Highlights
The advent of modern applications requiring antenna arrays with flexible scanning capabilities has turned agile beam-scanning antenna design into an active area of research [1].Some of these diverse applications include automotive radars, weather observations, air surveillance [2] and satellite communication (SatCom) [3]
The authors of [15] investigated a linear array of patch antennas and demonstrated the scanning capability by mechanically rotating the elements in the array. The drawback of this approach is its need for rotational symmetry, limiting this technique to circularly polarized (CP) RAs
The single structure collimates the spherical wave radiated by the feed antenna and provides the corresponding phase gradient needed from the first prism for beam steering
Summary
The advent of modern applications requiring antenna arrays with flexible scanning capabilities has turned agile beam-scanning antenna design into an active area of research [1]. Active phased arrays offer flexible and fast beam scanning [2] They need a designated Transmit/Receive (T/R) module for each antenna element, rendering them relatively complex solutions. Using a single highpower amplifier connected to a feed antenna as an illuminating source and free-space as the medium to combine outgoing radiations from constituent elements provide RAs and TAs some advantages over active phased array antennas These advantages have motivated many applications to consider RAs or TAs as their best option, especially those seeking simpler scanning scenarios, high-power and less complexity. Such actuators can be designed for various applications ranging from precision micron control of fragile optical components to the displacement of large masses [1] This presents opportunities for the further development of mechanically-reconfigurable agile beam scanning RAs and TAs
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