Multibeam digital metasurface reflectarray antenna for 5G millimeter wave applications

Abstract

A phase‐graded multibeam high gain digital metasurface reflector array (DMSRA) antenna for 5G millimeter wave communication is proposed in this letter. The DMSRA unit‐cell element is composed of a dipole loaded with endstubs. The variation of load across the diploe manipulates the reflection phase response of the incoming electromagnetic wave. A discretized phase state of 0° and 180° is obtained for an optimized loaded dipole. The phase states mimic the binary meta bit‐0 and meta bit‐1. The metabits are distributed along the reflecting surface using a digital coding sequence to form multiple beams in the desired direction. A coding sequence of 010101… is employed to design a two‐dimensional phase‐graded metasurface to generate a four‐beam radiation pattern. The designed digital metasurface reflectarray antenna of dimensions is fabricated and measured to validate the performance. The DMSRA is excited by an antipodal Vivaldi antenna positioned at an optimized focal point of 28 mm. The measured results show a four‐beam radiation pattern obtained over the frequency range of 27.5–28.5 GHz along azimuthal and elevation planes, with a peak beam gain of 10.5 dBi at 28 GHz.