Reconfigurable array antennas with phase-only control of quantized phase shifters

In this paper a new synthesis method for electronically controlled, reconfigurable array antennas for future wireless communication systems such as vehicle to roadside communications or cellular telephone systems is presented. Quantized phase shifters can already be taken into account during synthesis. The shape of the main beam as well as the sidelobe level can be reconfigurated with phase-only control of quantized phase shifters. The amplitude of the weighting factors in the antenna beamforming network remains constant resulting in only one antenna beamforming network for several antenna patterns. Results for linear as well as planar array antennas show the efficacy of the new synthesis method