Three-Dimensional Beamsteering Low-Complexity Reconfigurable Multilevel Antenna

A low-complexity reconfigurable antenna (RA) capable of steering its beam into nine different directions corresponding to 0 = {-42°, 0°, 42°} in the φ = {25°, 0°, 155°} planes, and 0 = ±25° in the φ = 90° plane, using a reduced number of switches is presented. The RA operating at 3.4-3.8 GHz consists of a central dipole element excited by a coaxial probe, surrounded by four switchable parasitic dipoles located at different height levels above a ground plane, which acts as either a reflector for the elements located at an upper layer or a director for the ones at a lower layer, improving the radiation characteristics of the antenna. Each parasitic dipole is fed with a p-i-n diode as a switch, which enables the activation of these elements providing the desired modes of operation. The presented RA was manufactured and measured showing results with a good agreement with the theoretical and numerical simulation.