Electronic beam steering using switched parasitic patch elements

Abstract

A new technique is presented demonstrating the use of switched parasitic elements in electronic beam steering applications. Experimental and theoretical results are presented for a linearly polarised five element steerable patch antenna array operating at 1.55 GHz. Shorted parasitic elements have been used to steer the beam in two directions for tracking polar orbiting satellites. The minimum gain of the system for elevation angles >20° above the horizon is -1.5 dBi in the forward direction.