Reconfigurable Metasurface-Dome Synthesis for Beam-Steering

Fixed-frequency beam-scanning antennas have been increasing interest due to their crucial role in many 5 G and 6 G applications. Although phased antenna arrays provide a versatile approach to beam-scanning, they suffer from mutual coupling problems between adjacent elements and require a complex feed network with significant power consumption [1]. To overcome these limitations, in the last decade, conformal and flexible metasurface covers are proposed for reconfigurability and shaping modification of the radiation pattern characteristics [2], for both single antenna source scenarios [3] and antenna arrays [4]–[6]. In the latter, the cover is used to shift at the metasurface level the beamforming functionalities. Indeed, by implementing the metasurface through Huygens unit-cells ensuring zero reflections and a specific phase-insertion [4], a phase-gradient can be introduced onto the metasurface discontinuity, steering the illuminating beam toward a prescribed direction.