Finite element analysis and design of beam steering devices with global control

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to design metaguide- or metasurface-based compact inexpensive beam-steering devices, which play an important role in modern cellular networks, radar imaging and satellite communication. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses finite element analysis to study, design and optimize arrays of resonating elements as beam steering devices. The first set of such devices involves metamaterial-based apertures fed by a waveguide, tunable via the permittivity of the host material. In the second approach, dynamic beam steering is effected by alternating between two or more waveguide feeds. Findings Particular examples show how the direction of the main lobe of the radiated beam can be reliably switched by approximately 30° in one of the quadrants by changing a single global control parameter within a very reasonable range. Research limitations/implications The findings pave the way for the design and fabrication of inexpensive compact beam steering devices. This study anticipates that the proposed designs can be further improved and fine-tuned using “heavy duty” optimization packages. Originality/value In many published designs of similar beam-steering devices, the radiation pattern of an array of resonating elements is controlled by complex circuitry, so that each radiating element is tuned separately. In contrast with these existing approaches, the designs rely just on a simple global control parameter.