Multibeam Hybrid Transmitarray Based on Polarization Rotating Metasurface With Reconfigurable Bidirectional Radiation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a reconfigurable multibeam hybrid transmitarray using a polarization-rotating metasurface, enabling bidirectional beam scanning with high gain and low loss, demonstrated through design, simulation, and fabrication.

Contribution

It presents a novel bidirectional multibeam transmitarray with polarization switching and a new configuration for simultaneous forward and backward beam scanning.

Findings

Achieves bidirectional beam scanning within +/-30° and +/-22° with high gain.

Demonstrates simultaneous forward and backward beam scanning up to +/-40° and +/-22°.

Prototype results confirm good agreement with simulations, validating the design.

Abstract

This paper proposes a bidirectional multibeam hybrid transmitarray (HTA) employing a transmission polarization-rotating metasurface (TPRM). A novel configuration is introduced to facilitate bidirectional beam scanning by combining the transmitarray (TA) and folded-transmitarray (FTA). To accomplish the reconfiguration of both unidirectional and bidirectional radiation states in the +z, -z, and +/-z directions, a polarization switchable multi-feed array (MFA) is placed at the focal plane between the TA and FTA, radiating x-polarization, y-polarization, and 45-degree oblique polarization waves, respectively. Meanwhile, the proposed antenna can achieve multibeam radiation in the three aforementioned states by switching the polarization of the MFA. To demonstrate the operating principle, a prototype has been designed, simulated, and fabricated. The measured results agree well with the simulated results. The simulated and measured results indicate that the proposed design can generate reconfigurable multibeam in both forward and backward directions, either separately or simultaneously. In the unidirectional states, forward and backward beam scanning is achieved within an angular range of +/-30{\deg} and +/-22{\deg}, respectively, with peak gains of 23.6 dBi and 23.1 dBi. A simultaneous forward and backward beam scanning of +/-40{\deg} and +/-22{\deg} is achieved in the hybrid radiation state, with peak gains of 19.4 dBi and 19.3 dBi, respectively. The proposed antenna array design offers several advantages, including bidirectional low-loss beam scanning, a simple structure, low power consumption, and a low profile.