Reconfigurable Compliant-Mechanism-Based Flexure Metasurface for Ruggedized Reflectarray Antennas

A robust and inexpensive unit-cell design for reflectarray antennas (RAs) that seamlessly integrates electromechanical reconfigurable metamaterial technology with a durable mechanical topology is presented here. The proposed unit cell employs a compliant-mechanism-enabled design, featuring an inductive spiral that connects to a central patch element. This structure not only serves as a tuning component but also facilitates mechanical deflection, thus enabling continuous control of the reflection phase. Actuation of the design is achieved through a linear stepper motor positioned behind the ground plane, offering a straightforward control implementation. Furthermore, the design ensures safety against incident electric fields and minimizes the potential for electromagnetic interference. Simulation studies approximating the unit cell's performance within a full RA configuration reveal promising capabilities for future optimization to achieve robust high-power microwave beam steering applications.