Beam-adjustable planar arrays composed of microstrip antennas

A method for determining the configuration and radiation characteristics of a beam-adjustable planar array antenna (BA-MSAA) consisting of microstrip antennas (MSA) and parasitic MSA elements loaded with reactance devices is discussed, and fundamental design information is obtained. (1) The radiation characteristics of the stacked one-dimensional BA-MSAA are studied by simulation and experiments and basic design information is obtained. (2) The characteristics of a two-dimensional BA-MSAA consisting of a principal MSA surrounded by parasitic MSAs placed in an X configuration are studied. In addition to obtaining basic design information, the validity of the method is verified experimentally. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 87(10): 1–12, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.20084