A Low-Cost, Parabolic Reflector-Based Multibeam Antenna Enabled by a Single-Feed With Reconfigurable Phase Center

Multibeam antenna (MBA) is playing a critical role in millimeter wave and satellite applications, but most MBAs suffer from high complexity/cost and limited beam control capabilities. In this communication, a low-cost, high-gain multibeam antenna based on a standard parabolic reflector and substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) slot feed antenna with reconfigurable phase center is proposed, featuring versatile operating modes with independent control of each beam. Compared with existing multibeam antennas that have multiple feeds with fixed phase centers, the proposed design can reduce system complexity, cost, and weight. The feed antenna consists of multiple radiating slots, each of which can be activated individually. By controlling the states of the PIN diodes integrated into the slots, the proposed antenna can operate in the single-beam, dual-beam, and multi-beam modes, enabling dynamic control of each beam without incurring complicated beamforming circuitry. As a proof-of-concept, an MBA composed of an SIW feed with eight radiating slots and a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parabolic reflector is developed and characterized. The proposed antenna can realize either a scanning single pencil-beam or multiple beams with independent control of each beam. The antenna has an enhanced gain of over 31 dBi with a sidelobe level (SLL) better than - 12 dB at different states of operation. Such a design provides an effective and efficient solution to achieve high-gain tunable multiple beams at a low cost, making it suitable for satellite and radar applications.