Abstract
This thesis presents the author’s work on the design and development of novel antenna capable of electronic beamsteering1 for various wireless applications. Such antennas aim to change the direction of their radiation patterns and directivities, electronically and dynamically, in a fast and efficient manner without the need of mechanical aid.In particular, Metamaterials (MM) and, more specifically, Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS), are introduced as base materials on novel beamsteering antenna designs.When these are structured as a transmitarray, i.e. a structure positioned in the near-field of a directive radiating element, such "artificial" materials allow to control the direction of the propagating electromagnetic wave providing the desired beamsteering capability.
The innovative work developed in this Ph.D. yielded to the fabrication of two FSSinspired transmitarray antenna prototypes with Two-Dimensional (2D) beamsteering capability using a single Radio Frequency (RF) front-end. Following mathematical workout and proper model validation using a full-wave electromagnetic simulator, the transmitarrays have experimentally been characterised in terms of their beamsteering capability and finally tested under several real-case scenarios.
The use transmitarrays in novel antenna beamsteering is attractive to many wireless applications, specially in the scope of the 5th Generation (of mobile network) (5G) and novel hybrid transmission schemes such as Spatial Diversity (SD) and Multiple-input Multiple-output (MIMO) with beamsteering. The reduction of the RF fronted burden associated to the use of a single radiation element, instead of many elements as used in other beamsteering techniques, the reduced implementation costs and the compact and light weight form factors, opens a new window for the deployment of transmitarray antennas in several top-notch wireless applications. This is considered to be a leap
contribution to the antennas’ community with practical relevance to emerging industries in this field.
| Date of Award | Dec 2018 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Nigel Copner (Supervisor) & Akram Hammoudeh (Supervisor) |