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

Author

Moghadas, Hamid ; Daneshmand, Mojgan ; Mousavi, Parvin

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Volume

63

Issue

1

fYear

2015

fDate

Jan. 2015

Firstpage

369

Lastpage

373

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.

Keywords

antennas; beam steering; micromechanical devices; HPG-PRS; MEMS-tunable beam-shaping half phase-gradient; MEMS-tunable half phase gradient partially reflective surface; RF-MEMS switches; asymmetric off-broadside beams; asymmetric single beam; center-fed RCA; full phase-gradient partially reflective surface; resonant cavity antenna; tunable PRS unit cell; Apertures; Cavity resonators; Frequency measurement; Leaky wave antennas; Microswitches; Tuning; Micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS); partially reflective surface (PRS); resonant cavity antenna (RCA);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-926X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TAP.2014.2364303

Filename

6933893