Design and implementation of a reconfigurable metasurface antenna

The use of the millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum and further exploration of sub mmWave has led to a new era in wireless communication, as the need for higher

data rates grows. High frequencies, on one hand, incur a higher path loss, requiring an increase in antenna gain requirements. Metasurfaces, which emerge as a promising technology for mitigating path loss effects by utilizing 2D arrays of engineered

meta-atoms resembling metamaterials that control the surface’s electromagnetic response has been introduced. Currently, they are primarily considered as passive

reflecting devices in wireless communications, assisting conventional transceivers

in shaping propagation environments. The work herein presents an alternative application of metasurfaces for wireless communications as active reconfigurable an tennas for next generation transceivers. A framework that demonstrates the design process of a metasurface antenna structure is introduced and further used to design a 4⇥4 array and its reconfigurable counterpart. In contrast to conventional array an tennas, a reconfigurable metasurface (RMS) antenna does not require phase-shifters

and amplifiers, hence, leading to a reduction of costs. Instead, each individual element achieves reconfigurability by shifting the resonating frequency using semiconductor devices such as PIN diodes. The proposed metasurface antenna is designed

to operate at a frequency of 28 GHz and 40 GHz. The work achieved a return loss of

-18.57 dB and -22.0 dB, which indicates good impedance match between transmission line and antenna. In addition, an increase in gain and directivity is observed

when diodes are added to the metasurface antenna array. However, as a result of

diode losses, the radiation efficiency of the metasurface array decreased. Future directions have been explored that may pave way to present the full potential of active

metasurface antennas in upcoming wireless communications.