Metasurface-Based Beam Scanning Array With In-Band Co-Polarized Scattered Field Shaping

In this article, a novel array of radiation and scattering function-integrated metasurface antenna (RSIMA) elements is proposed, simulated, and measured for radiation beam scanning and two examples of in-band co-polarized (IBCP) scattered field shaping. The RSIMA consists of a slot-connected metasurface (SCMS) subarray of 3 x 3 unit cells and a substrate integrated slot waveguide (SISW). When illuminated by plane waves, each SCMS unit cell can independently obtain a wide range of reflection phases by tuning structural parameters. When excited by the coaxial port of SISW, the SCMS subarray will also act as a radiation carrier of RSIMA. Moreover, the layout change of SCMS subarray will not significantly affect the radiation performance of RSIMA. Based on the principle of phase compensation and the phase superposition method, the phase distribution for two examples of scattered field shaping can be designed. In simulations and experiments, the array of 12 x 12 RSIMAs radiates an IBCP beam scanning over +/- 31.5 degrees in the E-plane and shapes the IBCP scattered fields into a deflected vortex beam (DVB) and a deflected high-gain multi-beam (DHMB). It is worth mentioning that the SCMS layout change between two examples of scattered field shaping does not significantly affect the radiation performance of the RSIMA array.

Automated summary

This article introduces a novel array of radiation and scattering function-integrated metasurface antenna (RSIMA) elements for radiation beam scanning and two examples of scattered field shaping. The RSIMA array has the characteristics of independently obtaining a wide range of reflection phases and the radiation performance not significantly affected by layout changes.