Demonstration of a gathered element for reconfigurable-beam reflectarrays based on ohmic MEMS

This contribution presents the design of an electronic controllable reflectarray element using ohmic MEMS as switching devices. The proposed element is based on two patches aperture-coupled to a microstrip network with a common delay line, forming a sub-array. The electric length of the line can be modified by the inclusion of a series switch between two segments of the microstrip line. The ohmic electrostatic switch has been designed for RF applications and implemented on a coplanar line. The transition between the coplanar line of the MEMS and the microstrip delay line has been implemented using gold wires which have been bonded to the printed pads. The reconfigurable element has been validated with measurements in waveguide simulator using an equivalent circuit for the MEMS characterization.