Multibeam Compact Reflectarray Antenna With Low Scan Loss and Wide-Angle Performance Using a Multi-Feed Configuration

In this article, two multibeam reflectarray antennas are presented for Ka-band in a multi-feed configuration. Both feature a wide-angle scanning range with very low scan losses. They are designed using an iterative optimization process based on a phase-only optimization (POO) which allows fine contr...

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Main Authors: Andres Gomez-Alvarez, Alvaro F. Vaquero, Manuel Arrebola, Marcos Rodriguez Pino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2024-01-01
Series:IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10550926/
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author Andres Gomez-Alvarez
Alvaro F. Vaquero
Manuel Arrebola
Marcos Rodriguez Pino
author_facet Andres Gomez-Alvarez
Alvaro F. Vaquero
Manuel Arrebola
Marcos Rodriguez Pino
author_sort Andres Gomez-Alvarez
collection DOAJ
description In this article, two multibeam reflectarray antennas are presented for Ka-band in a multi-feed configuration. Both feature a wide-angle scanning range with very low scan losses. They are designed using an iterative optimization process based on a phase-only optimization (POO) which allows fine control over the gain for each beam. The phase responses of the lattice cells are selected taking into account the illumination levels and radiation requirements of all feeds in the system. Minimization of scanning losses and overall antenna compactness are prioritized in the design. The feeding elements are placed along a tilted arc with a low F/D of 0.58. Compared to other beam scanning reflectarray designs in the literature, inter-feed blockage is avoided and thus simultaneous multibeam operation is supported. The two reflectarray designs are implemented using a unit cell with low losses and high angular stability, and they operate in different orthogonal linear polarizations. They are manufactured and measured, showing very low scan losses of 0.5 dB and 1.4 dB across a ±45-degree scanning range, while having maximum gain levels of 28.2 dBi and 29.4 dBi respectively. Moreover, they present extremely low beam squint across the evaluated 3 GHz band, and a measured 1 dB fractional bandwidth over 6.8% and 10%.
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publishDate 2024-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-75387dd960fd42b9a6faaba95218db6a2025-02-05T00:01:16ZengIEEEIEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation2637-64312024-01-01541095110710.1109/OJAP.2024.341067810550926Multibeam Compact Reflectarray Antenna With Low Scan Loss and Wide-Angle Performance Using a Multi-Feed ConfigurationAndres Gomez-Alvarez0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2916-7923Alvaro F. Vaquero1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7317-4122Manuel Arrebola2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2487-121XMarcos Rodriguez Pino3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7468-3084Department of Electrical Engineering, Group of Signal Theory and Communications, Universidad de Oviedo, Gijón, SpainDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Group of Signal Theory and Communications, Universidad de Oviedo, Gijón, SpainDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Group of Signal Theory and Communications, Universidad de Oviedo, Gijón, SpainDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Group of Signal Theory and Communications, Universidad de Oviedo, Gijón, SpainIn this article, two multibeam reflectarray antennas are presented for Ka-band in a multi-feed configuration. Both feature a wide-angle scanning range with very low scan losses. They are designed using an iterative optimization process based on a phase-only optimization (POO) which allows fine control over the gain for each beam. The phase responses of the lattice cells are selected taking into account the illumination levels and radiation requirements of all feeds in the system. Minimization of scanning losses and overall antenna compactness are prioritized in the design. The feeding elements are placed along a tilted arc with a low F/D of 0.58. Compared to other beam scanning reflectarray designs in the literature, inter-feed blockage is avoided and thus simultaneous multibeam operation is supported. The two reflectarray designs are implemented using a unit cell with low losses and high angular stability, and they operate in different orthogonal linear polarizations. They are manufactured and measured, showing very low scan losses of 0.5 dB and 1.4 dB across a ±45-degree scanning range, while having maximum gain levels of 28.2 dBi and 29.4 dBi respectively. Moreover, they present extremely low beam squint across the evaluated 3 GHz band, and a measured 1 dB fractional bandwidth over 6.8% and 10%.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10550926/Multibeambeam scanningreflectarrayKa bandmulti-feed antenna
spellingShingle Andres Gomez-Alvarez
Alvaro F. Vaquero
Manuel Arrebola
Marcos Rodriguez Pino
Multibeam Compact Reflectarray Antenna With Low Scan Loss and Wide-Angle Performance Using a Multi-Feed Configuration
IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Multibeam
beam scanning
reflectarray
Ka band
multi-feed antenna
title Multibeam Compact Reflectarray Antenna With Low Scan Loss and Wide-Angle Performance Using a Multi-Feed Configuration
title_full Multibeam Compact Reflectarray Antenna With Low Scan Loss and Wide-Angle Performance Using a Multi-Feed Configuration
title_fullStr Multibeam Compact Reflectarray Antenna With Low Scan Loss and Wide-Angle Performance Using a Multi-Feed Configuration
title_full_unstemmed Multibeam Compact Reflectarray Antenna With Low Scan Loss and Wide-Angle Performance Using a Multi-Feed Configuration
title_short Multibeam Compact Reflectarray Antenna With Low Scan Loss and Wide-Angle Performance Using a Multi-Feed Configuration
title_sort multibeam compact reflectarray antenna with low scan loss and wide angle performance using a multi feed configuration
topic Multibeam
beam scanning
reflectarray
Ka band
multi-feed antenna
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10550926/
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