Ultra-Wideband Reconfigurable X-Band and Ku-Band Metasurface Beam-Steerable Reflector for Satellite Communications

Abstract

A continuously reconfigurable metasurface reflector based on unit cell mushroom geometry that was integrated with a varactor diode is presented in this paper. The unit cell of the metasurface was designed and optimized to operate in the X-band and Ku-band, improving satellite communication’s quality of service. The losses mechanisms of continuous control over the unit cell phase reflection in beam steering resolution are considered and the analysis results are presented. The unit cell design parameters were analyzed with an emphasis on losses and dynamic reflection phase range. The unit cell magnitude and phase reflection are shown in the wide frequency bandwidth and showed a good agreement between all the measurements and the simulations. This metasurface enabled a high dynamic range in the unit cell resonant frequency range from 7.8 to 15 GHz. In addition, the reflection phase and absorption calibration are demonstrated for multiple operating frequencies, namely, 11 GHz, 12 GHz, and 13.5 GHz. Furthermore, design trade-offs and manufacturing limitations were considered. Finally, a beam-steering simulation using the designed metasurface is shown and discussed.

Performance Enhancement of Reconfigurable Metamaterial Reflector Antenna by Decreasing the Absorption of the Reflected Beam

“…This makes the task of finding an efficient and practical solution more difficult. Previous works, extensively based on CST simulation code, were implemented and experimentally tested for reconfigurable MS reflectors at Ku-band [20] and K-band [7]. The experimental results of these MSs are in excellent agreement with the simulation results for the reflection property values and beam-steering abilities.…”

Electronic Beam-Scanning Antenna Based on a Reconfigurable Phase-Modulated Metasurface

“…Simulation and experimental results presented in Figure 10b show high beam-steering capabilities up to 60 • with side-lobe levels (SLL) lower than 10 dB. The high beam-steering range of the proposed antenna is an improvement over the capabilities of previous gradient metasurfaces presented in literature, where beam steering was achieved up to 50 • [8,37]. The parabolic phase profile also enables a significant increase in gain compared to classic beam-steering gradient metasurfaces.…”

“…The electronic elements are used to tune the resonant properties of the meta-atom, thereby helping to dynamically tailor electromagnetic wavefronts. In the field of antennas, one of the applications that necessitates reconfigurable metasurfaces is beam scanning, in which the main beam is electronically steered through tailoring the phase profile implemented in the metasurface [37][38][39].…”

Steer by Image Technology for Intelligent Reflecting Surface Based on Reconfigurable Metasurface with Photodiodes as Tunable Elements

“…This approach is called phase-gradient and is divided into two sub-approaches: continuous and discrete (digital coding) tuning. Components for continuous tuning of the metasurface, such as Liquid Crystal materials [24], piezoelectric materials and MEMS [25,26] and varactor diodes [19,[27][28][29][30][31], require complicated wiring of DC bias, control boards and RF circuits.…”

“…In addition, the control system and the attached biasing circuit (see Figure 1) on the back of the metasurface may degrade the steering performance of the IRS. For example, in [29], a metasurface with 40 × 33-unit cells that allow a tunable onedimensional control of the reflected beam in the X-Band and Ku-Band is demonstrated. A varactor diode model of MACOM MAVR-011020-11411 was used as a tunable component.…”