A New Low Cost Leaky Wave Coplanar Waveguide Continuous Transverse Stub Antenna Array Using Metamaterial-Based Phase Shifters for Beam Steering

In this paper, we have proposed a new leaky-wave coplanar waveguide (CPW) continuous transverse stub (CTS) antenna array with metamaterial-based phase shifters for beam steering applications. The array integrates three CTS elements and two 6-stage negative reflective index (NRI) phase shifters, and is fed by CPW transmission line. Beam steering capabilities are achieved by tuning the values of the NRI phase shifters. The proposed CPW-CTS array is fabricated for 2.4-GHz wireless local area network (WLAN). The measured data, including parameters, radiation patterns and gain, agree well with the simulation results. A scan-angle range from 58 degrees to 124 degrees of unidirectional radiation pattern is measured in the E-plane with good impedance matching (-10 dB). Designs incorporating continuous beam steering using tunable NRI metamaterial phase shifters are also discussed.