CRLH-based Reconfigurable Antenna Array for Handheld Devices

Abstract

This paper proposes a two-dimensional beam-steering millimeter wave antenna array with a compact tunable phase shifter based on composite right/left-handed (CRLH) cells. The array element is an aperture coupled microstrip slotted antenna with parasitic patches positioned on the higher layer for improving gain and bandwidth. The beam steering is accomplished by simply controlling the phase among the array elements. By using varactors to manage the CRLH cell phase. Numerical simulation results demonstrate gain of 17 dBi in a 3x3 array antenna, with sidelobe levels lower than -10dB, operating from 24.9 to 26.3 GHz. The scanning range is approximately ±20 degrees and the mutual coupling is -50dB.