Reconfigurable bandstop filter using active frequency selective surface, design and fabrication

Abstract

Abstract In this paper a novel FSS array is proposed, that provides dynamic band-gap in C-band. Inside the band-gap, the FSS acts as a bandstop filter. Outside the band-gap the amplitude of the reflected wave from the FSS array decreases. Therefore, the outside band is very useful in radar cross section (RCS) reduction. In this paper, at first a new FSS unit cell is designed, then in order to achieve the maximum bandwidth (1.2 GHz), dimensions of the cell are optimized. In the next step, the FSS cell is equipped with PIN diodes. Turning the diodes ON or OFF, shifts the resonant frequency of the band-gap electronically. When diodes are OFF, the resonant frequency and −10 dB bandwidth of the FSS are 5.23 and 0.9 GHz respectively. When the diodes turn ON, the resonant frequency shifts to 4.75 GHz over a bandwidth of about 1 GHz. While the band-gap is shifted dynamically, the bandwidth is kept wide, which is the novelty of this paper. In order to validate the design process, an array of active cells consisting of 128 pin diodes was designed, fabricated and then tested. Finally, the simulation and measurement results are compared with each other and a good agreement is observed between them.