1 Bit Electronically Reconfigurable Folded Reflectarray Antenna Based on p-i-n Diodes for Wide-Angle Beam-Scanning Applications
Zhenglong Wang, Yuehe Ge, Jixiong Pu, Xuxiang Chen, Guowei Li, Yufang Wang, Kaiting Liu, Hai Zhang, Zhizhang Chen
Abstract
In this communication, an electronically reconfigurable folded reflectarray antenna (ERFRA), which includes $14 \times 14$ reflecting elements and features a fully planar compact configuration and wide-angle beam-scanning performance, was developed, fabricated, and tested. A novel reflecting element that is able to carry out cross-polarization rotation and electronically reconfigurable 1 bit compensation phases was first developed. After experimentally demonstrating its feasibility, the new reflecting element was then applied to the design of a $14 \times 14$ ERFRA, with a planar feed in the center of the reflectarray and a beam-control system based on the field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The measurements of the fabricated ERFRA prototype show a wide beam-scanning range, up to ±60°, a peak gain of 17.07 dBi, and an aperture efficiency of about 13.2%.