Implementation of beam-steering front-ends at 2.45 GHz using modified Wilkinson power dividers, reflexion type phase shifters and C-shape monopole antennas: First results

The aim of this work is to implement electronic beam-steering systems. More specifically, we propose systems working at 2.45 GHz. For that, power dividers (PD), phase shifters (RTPS), and printed antennas are used. The main advantage of electronic beam-steering systems is related to the simple realization and low cost, when compared with mechanical ones. For some devices, a small shift in frequency is observed from 2.45 to 2.40 GHz. At 2.40 GHz, PD and RTPS show very low losses: 0.10 dB for the PD and between 0.55 and 1.40 dB for the RTPS; as well as good return losses (-30.19 dB and -2.85 dB, respectively). The RTPS enables to perform 360° of phase-shift with a 0.5-2.72 pF varactor. With the proposed topologies, a simulated 2-antenna array beam-steering of ±85° has been shown with return loss of -12.88 dB. Since inclination angle F also varied, no relevant measured results were obtained in the available anechoic chamber, which works only in the Φ = 0 plane. A 4-antenna array was then measured. Results reach gains up to 5.58 dBi with -11.07 dB of return losses at 2.40 GHz. Since this is still a preliminary work, the results presented are very promising.