A metasurface-based electronically steerable compact antenna system with reconfigurable artificial magnetic conductor reflector elements

Vikrant Singh; Mohsen Khalily; Rahim Tafazolli

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.105549

A metasurface-based electronically steerable compact antenna system with reconfigurable artificial magnetic conductor reflector elements

iScience. 2022 Nov 12;25(12):105549. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105549. eCollection 2022 Dec 22.

Authors

Vikrant Singh¹, Mohsen Khalily¹, Rahim Tafazolli¹

Affiliation

¹ 5G Innovation Centre & 6G Innovation Centre (5GIC & 6GIC), Institute for Communication Systems (ICS), University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.

Abstract

Beyond 5G networks would require newer technologies to deliver a smarter network. In accordance with these requirements, an electronically steerable compact antenna system capable of beam-switching in the azimuth plane is proposed. The design uses a monopole antenna as the main radiator surrounded by metasurface-based electronically reconfigurable reflector elements designed for the sub-6GHz range. The reflector elements use a reconfigurable capacitively loaded loop (CLL) which can be electronically activated to work as an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC). The design offers a digitally controllable directional radiation pattern covering all 360° in the azimuth plane with a step-size of 30°, a directional gain of $\geq 4.98$ dBi and a high front-to-back lobe ratio (FBR) of $\geq 14.9$ dB. The compact and modular nature of the design combined with the use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and 3D-printing makes the design low-cost and easier to integrate with various internet of thing (IoT) applications.

Keywords: Physics; engineering; photonics.