Abstract
Membrane reflectarray antennas with flexible support structures realize low weight and low stowage volume. However, deformation of the reflectarray membrane generally degrades antenna gain. We propose electrical misalignment compensation for 5.8-GHz-band reflectarray antennas by varactor diodes. Active reflection elements are composed of a square patch with the varactor diodes and parameters are characterized in a waveguide. The results of the simulated and measured reflection characteristics agree because of the accurate numerical modelling of the varactor diode. A reflectarray with a stepped structure for misalignment compensation is designed and characterized. The stepped misalignment degrades the antenna gain because the phase distribution is disturbed. Adjusting the reflection phase of the deformed elements compensates the disturbed phase distribution and improves the antenna gain. The gain improvement is confirmed by both simulations and measurements of the antenna gain.
Highlights
Small satellites with high gain large aperture antennas are enabling new applications, such as global high-speed satellite communications and radar observation networks with small satellite constellations [1], [2]
We propose to compensate for this deformation by adjusting the reflection phase of the reflectarray elements and so increase the antenna gain
Active reflection elements are composed of a square patch with the varactor diodes and parameters are characterized in a waveguide
Summary
Small satellites with high gain large aperture antennas are enabling new applications, such as global high-speed satellite communications and radar observation networks with small satellite constellations [1], [2]. This suggests that electrical approach could be one solution for antennas to compensate for the non-flatness of the membrane structure, rather than relying exclusively on mechanical surface accuracy Such an approach would potentially enable significant weight and volume reductions of high gain antennas. Simulations have shown that the surface distortion of a primary reflector can be compensated for by changing the radiation pattern of a subreflector composed of an active reflectarray [26] Such an antenna requires two reflectors resulting in high weight and volume and added complexity in the configuration. The electrical distortion compensation technique for deployable membrane reflectarrays with flexible support structures realizes a hitherto unrealized high gain, low weight, and low stowage volume.
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