Single-feed multi-beam reflectarray antennas

Reflectarray antennas imitate the conventional parabolic reflectors while having a low profile, low mass and flat surface. They have received much attention recently and are quickly finding applications in satellite communications, contoured beam space antennas, cloud/precipitation radars and commercial usages [1]. On the other hand a direct control of the phase shift of each element in the reflectarray proves to have additional advantages. In comparing to the bulky and expensive dual-gridded reflectors for contoured beam application, the reflectarray can achieve contoured beam performance without any additional cost [2]. Similarly multi-beam performance can be realized directly by correcting the phase shift of the elements accordingly.