Two-Bit Planar Coding Reconfigurable Array Antenna for Dual-Polarized Wide-Angle Beam Scanning

Abstract

In this communication, a dual-polarized coding reconfigurable array antenna with the characteristics of being low-profile, low-cost, relatively low-sidelobe and wide-angle beam scanning is proposed. By exciting the array via different feeding ports, horizontal and vertical polarized scanning beams can be generated. By adjusting the PIN diodes integrated on the feeding lines, the element presents four different phase states of -270°, -180°, -90°, and 0°, labeled as “00”, “01”, “10”, and “11”. An eight elements array antenna is designed based on the element. With the introduction of elaborately designed two groups of fixed phase delay, the sidelobe level at different scanning angles can be effectively reduced in two polarized directions and the gain are also improved. The simulated and measured results of the fabricated prototype indicate that dual-polarized ±60° wide-angle beam scanning, moderate array gain, relatively low sidelobe level, and low cross polarization level can be achieved. The proposed array antenna, which according to our best knowledge, is the first dual linear polarized wide angle beam scanning coding reconfigurable array without the feeding horn, might have good applications in base station and fully polarimetric radar.