On pattern reconfigurable antennas steered by modulation scheme

Abstract

The paper demonstrates how a modulation constellation can be used to steer the radiation pattern of a reconfigurable omnidirectional circularly polarized antenna. The proposed approach offers the benefit of digital beamforming while using a single antenna: the steering can be executed by low frequency electronics and independently for each frequency channel. In the proposed study, the antenna is excited by a signal generated by two I/Q modulators. By appropriately changing the I and Q components, a phase shift is generated which effectively steers the radiation pattern. The results were achieved using co-simulation between CST Microwave Studio and CST Design Studio.