Realization of Scan Blindness Free Finite Microstrip Phased Arrays Based on Mode-Free Radiating Electromagnetic Bandgap Materials

This paper demonstrates finite-sized microstrip phased arrays based on a novel electromagnetic bandgap material, which is mode-free along the lateral directions while radiating to the broadside direction as an antenna element; it improves array radiation along all scan directions compared to uniform substrate arrays. Scan characteristics of the array are obtained by using the active element pattern and active reflection coefficient of the center element, instead of using phase shifters and power dividers. Comparison of the fabricated bandgap and uniform substrate array prototypes validate the bandgap array's performance; i.e., it eliminates the scan blindness problem.