On Understanding the Radiation Mechanism of Reflectarray Antennas: An Insightful and Illustrative Approach

This article presents a unique point of view for microstrip reflectarrays. Through the effective utilization of graphical visualization of the scattered fields from the reflectarrays, one can gain insightful understanding into the fundamental workings of these antennas. The most important part of the reflectarray analysis and design is the accurate characterization of the individual reflectarray element for reflection phase performance. Using this visualization approach, reflectarray elements are characterized in unit-cell environments. This exercise aids in identifying the important geometrical parameters of the element that contribute to the reflection phase shift. These elements are then placed in an actual reflectarray environment, and the performance of the reflectarray is evaluated through full-wave electromagnetic simulations and measurements. It is validated that this technique can be successfully used to analyze, design, and potentially diagnose reflectarray antennas.

[1]  W. Marsden.  I and J , 2012 .

[2]  M. Cuhaci,et al.  Development of a dual band circularly-polarized cassegrain microstrip reflectarray , 2004, 2004 10th International Symposium on Antenna Technology and Applied Electromagnetics and URSI Conference.

[3]  R. Pogorzelski,et al.  A Ka-band microstrip reflectarray with elements having variable rotation angles , 1998 .

[4]  A. Ittipiboon,et al.  Reflectarray research at the communications research centre Canada , 2008, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine.

[5]  Yahya Rahmat-Samii,et al.  Application of spherical near-field measurements to microwave holographic diagnosis of antennas , 1988 .

[6]  W. Menzel,et al.  Folded reflectarray antenna , 1998 .

[7]  Michel Cuhaci,et al.  Reflectarray with variable slots on ground plane , 2003 .

[8]  Yahya Rahmat-Samii,et al.  On the Reflection Characteristics of a Reflectarray Element with Low-Loss and High-Loss Substrates , 2010, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine.

[9]  D. Pozar,et al.  Design of millimeter wave microstrip reflectarrays , 1997 .

[10]  M. Riel,et al.  Design of an Electronically Beam Scanning Reflectarray Using Aperture-Coupled Elements , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[11]  J. Encinar.  Design of two-layer printed reflectarrays using patches of variable size , 2001 .

[12]  Tayfun Akin,et al.  Reconfigurable reflectarray using RF MEMS technology , 2006, 2006 First European Conference on Antennas and Propagation.

[13]  Y. Rahmat-Samii,et al.  Dielectric and Conductor Loss Quantification for Microstrip Reflectarray: Simulations and Measurements , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[14]  S.R. Rengarajan,et al.  Reciprocity Considerations in Microstrip Reflectarrays , 2009, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[15]  Bozzi,et al.  A figure of merit for losses in printed reflectarray elements , 2004, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[16]  L. Boccia,et al.  Application of varactor diodes for reflectarray phase control , 2002, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium (IEEE Cat. No.02CH37313).

[17]  M. Arrebola,et al.  Analysis of dual-reflector antennas with a reflectarray as subreflector , 2008, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine.

[18]  D. Berry,et al.  The reflectarray antenna , 1963 .

[19]  Y. Rahmat-Samii,et al.  A novel reflector surface distortion compensating technique using a sub-reflectarray , 2007, 2007 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium.

[20]  A.K. Skrivervik,et al.  Monolithic MEMS-Based Reflectarray Cell Digitally Reconfigurable Over a 360 $^{\circ }$ Phase Range , 2008, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[21]  R. J. Davies,et al.  Modeling and Design of Electronically Tunable Reflectarrays , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[22]  Wolfgang Menzel,et al.  Millimeter-wave folded reflector antennas with high gain, low loss, and low profile , 2002 .

[23]  T. A. Metzler,et al.  Analysis of a reflectarray antenna using microstrip patches of variable size , 1993 .

[24]  Y. Rahmat-Samii,et al.  RF MEMS Actuated Reconfigurable Reflectarray Patch-Slot Element , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[25]  Yahya Rahmat-Samii,et al.  Reflectarray phase analysis: A simple and intuitive understanding , 2010, 2010 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium.

[26]  John Huang.  The development of inflatable array antennas , 2001 .

[27]  O. Vendik,et al.  A phase shifter with one tunable component for a reflectarray antenna , 2008, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine.