1-bit Coding Reconfigurable Array for 2-D Wide-Angle Scanning

In this article, an $8\,\,{\times }$ 8 array with 2-D wide-angle scanning is proposed and studied. By integrating two p-i-n diodes on the feeding line, the radiated electric field of the element can present two different phase states of 0° and −180°. By introducing the elaborately designed two groups of fixed phase delay (FPD) in horizontal and vertical directions, the grating lobe of the 1-bit array is effectively mitigated. Simulated and measured results indicate that the proposed array can cover the beam from −60° to 60° with no grating lobe within a 2-D scanning scope from 9 to 10 GHz. The peak gain of the array is 17.3 dBi and the cross-polarization level at the main lobe is less than −20 dB. The proposed array has the advantages of being lightweight, low-cost, and easy to integrate. These features enable its applications in space-limited scenarios such as base stations and unmanned aerial vehicles.