Reconfigurable Half-Mode SIW Antenna Using Uniaxial Field Programmable Microwave Substrate Structure

Abstract

This communication presents the design and implementation of a beam steerable leaky wave antenna (LWA) based on integrated electronic devices (varactor diodes). The design uses a half-mode substrate-integrated waveguide (HMSIW) where the short-circuited wall or PEC boundary is realized with field programmable microwave substrate (FPMS)-based unit cells. By virtue of placing integrated varactor diodes in these unit cells, the wavenumber and the phase shift of the propagating signal can be controlled. This allows a beam steering of 25° for a fixed center frequency. Furthermore, control of the varactor bias voltages allows a fixed beam direction over a wide frequency bandwidth. An excellent agreement can be observed between the simulated and measured results, validating the first ever FPMS-based reconfigurable antenna design.