Beam steering using a single dipole antenna including a capacitive load

This paper presents a single dipole antenna configured in such a way that with the inclusion of a variable capacitor it is possible to achieve beam steering using a single antenna. Presently electronic beam steering is only achievable using an array of antennas with a phase increment at each antenna, this method has an increased cost and physical size over a single loaded antenna. Method of moments code is used to find the optimum configuration of the loaded antenna to provide maximum beam steering. The simulated results and the benefits of using the single loaded dipole over a phased antenna array with regard to mobile communications are presented.