Smart aperture antennas

Gregory N. Washington

doi:10.1117/12.240443

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20 May 1996 Smart aperture antennas

Gregory N. Washington

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Proceedings Volume 2722, Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Smart Electronics and MEMS; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.240443
Event: 1996 Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 1996, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that reflector surface adaptation can achieve performance characteristics on the order of phase array antennas without the complexity and cost. The work proposed in this study develops a class of antennas capable of variable directivity (beam steering) and power density (beam shaping). The actuation for these antennas is employed by either polyvinylidene fluoride film bonded to a metalized mylar skin or shape memory alloys embedded in a composite structure. Theoretical studies of flexible antennas have shown that cylindrical antennas can achieve a directivity variation (beam scanning) of over 10 degree(s) and an increase in ground coverage of over 40%. In this study, prototypes are modeled and simulated to verify results.

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Gregory N. Washington "Smart aperture antennas", Proc. SPIE 2722, Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Smart Electronics and MEMS, (20 May 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.240443

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