2-bit Reconfigurable Circularly-Polarized Unit-Cell at Ka-band

We present here the design and numerical results of a circularly-polarized electronically reconfigurable unit-cell with a 2-bit phase resolution. This unit-cell, whose size (length x width x height) is 5.1x5.1x1.3 mm3, operates at Ka-band. It comprises six metal layers printed on three RT/Duroid 6002 dielectric substrates and two bonding films. Four p-i-n diodes are soldered on the two radiating elements printed on the top and bottom layers of the dielectric stack in order to control the transmission phase. Thus 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° phase states are achieved by properly switching the p-i-n diodes. Fractional 3-dB transmission bandwidths of 10.3%, 12.4%, 9.7% and 13.1% have been achieved at 29 GHz for the 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° phase states, respectively; while the insertion losses at 29 GHz varies between 1.1 dB and 1.3 dB. © 2018 Institution of Engineering and Technology.All Rights Reserved.