Broadband Flexible Metasurface-Inspired Antenna Array With Lower Scattering on Curved Surfaces

To integrate antennas into the curved surface of a mounted platform, a broadband flexible antenna array has been investigated in this letter, which maintains ultra-wideband lower scattering as well. The proposed array features a unique structure, combining two mirror-symmetrical types of metasurface-inspired antenna elements to create a 2 × 2 crossover array. This antenna array effectively reduces radar cross section (RCS) in the ultra-wideband without the need for additional components. Measured results indicate the proposed antenna array achieves a relative operating bandwidth exceeding 84% in both planar and deformed states and with peak gain over 13.3 dBi at 7 GHz. In comparison to a flexible equivalent metallic plane, the proposed antenna array demonstrates a relative 6 dB RCS reduction bandwidth exceeding 100.7% in planar state and over 75% in various deformed states.