Reconfigurable Dual-mode Integrated Beam-steering Array

Abstract

This paper presents an electronically reconfigurable dual-mode integrated beam-steering array. The core building block to fulfill the design is the reconfigurable synthesized transmission line (RSTL), whose transmission characteristic is controlled by a varactor diode as an on/off RF switch. By integrating the RSTLs to the array feed network, the proposed array is capable of, at a given frequency, switching its functionality as a beam-switching Butler matrix or a retro-directive array combined with data modulation. The switching is only dependent on the bias voltage of the varactor diodes, and the dc power consumption is very low $(\mu \mathrm{W})$. The circuit response of the feed network and the radiation characteristics of the phased array are verified experimentally.