60 GHz beam-steering slotted patch antenna array using liquid crystal phase-shifters

Liquid crystal based slotted patch antenna array with beam steering capability in one dimension for 60 GHz band is presented. For this array a compact, planar, liquid crystal based meander line phase shifter is designed which have a maximum differential phase shift of 47°. The array element is a slotted patch antenna and is coupled to the microstrip line passing below the array element. A stepped microstrip-to-microstrip transition for feeding the array from the patch side is developed. The final design comprises of a 4×1 slotted patch array, which is able to scan up to 14° in the E-plane as the bias on the liquid crystal changes from zero to saturation voltage.