A Broadband Transmitarray Antenna Using a Metasurface-Based Element for Millimeter-Wave Applications

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Electromagnetics
• Antenna Theory

Background:

• Millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication systems require high-gain, broadband antennas.
• Metasurfaces offer unique electromagnetic properties for antenna design.
• Transmitarray antennas (TAs) provide a planar alternative to traditional reflector antennas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and demonstrate a broadband transmitarray antenna (TA) for millimeter-wave applications.
• To utilize metasurface elements for efficient phase control and signal transmission.
• To achieve high gain and wide bandwidth in a compact, cost-effective antenna.

Main Methods:

• A metasurface-based transmitarray element with a receiver-transmitter configuration was designed.
• Slot-coupled differentially fed striplines were employed for phase compensation.
• A prototype was fabricated using a standard printed circuit board (PCB) process.
• A pyramid horn was used as the source for antenna characterization.

Main Results:

• The designed TA element demonstrated a transmission phase shift range exceeding 360°.
• Insertion loss remained below 1 dB across a wide frequency range.
• The fabricated prototype achieved a 1-dB gain bandwidth of 26.2% (23.5–30.5 GHz).
• A peak gain of 24.5 dBi was measured.

Conclusions:

• The proposed metasurface-based transmitarray antenna is a viable solution for millimeter-wave communications.
• The design offers high gain, broad bandwidth, low cost, and ease of integration.
• This technology presents a promising alternative for future high-frequency communication systems.