MEMS-Tunable Half Phase Gradient Partially Reflective Surface for Beam-Shaping

Abstract

A MEMS-tunable beam-shaping half phase-gradient (HPG) resonant cavity antenna (RCA) is presented. Traditionally, the full phase-gradient (FPG) partially reflective surface (PRS) is used in center-fed RCA for generating asymmetric off-broadside beams. Here, the novel configuration of HPG-PRS is offered with the advantages of faster real-time tracking and an improved scan profile compared to the FPG-PRS. A HPG-PRS is designed to scan 12 - 50° off broadside with frequency and also steer its beam for 69° at fixed frequency. Finally, the tunable PRS unit cell required for beam-steering in an RCA is realized using hybrid-integrated in-house developed RF-MEMS switches. These switches can be used to control the beam shape among: broadside, symmetric conical, and also an asymmetric single beam which is either frequency-scanned or steered at fixed frequency.