Scanning Enhanced Low-Profile Broadband Phased Array With Radiator-Sharing Approach and Defected Ground Structures

In this paper, a scanning enhanced low-profile broadband phased array is presented. This array is based on the radiator-sharing approach and the defected ground structures (DGSs). In this phased array, the radiator-sharing approach has been implemented by using metasurface antenna, and the scanning range has been remarkably enhanced by reducing element spacing. An attractive behavior in broadband impedance matching has still been obtained, in spite that closely spaced feedings are adopted. Moreover, the scanning performance is considerably improved by applying meander-line slots cut from the ground plane, forming DGS. In order to validate this proposed design, a nine-element linear phased array with DGSs has been fabricated and measured. Based on the uniform magnitude and the progressive phase, the capability of wide-angle scanning can be achieved over the measured bandwidth of 23.1% (4.6-5.8 GHz). At the center frequency of 5.2 GHz, this array scans up to 50° and the realized gain varies from 14.76 to 11.85 dBi.