An Extremely Low‐Profile Electronically Reconfigurable 1‐D X‐Band Leaky‐Wave Antenna

ABSTRACT In this work, a simple analytical model based on the array factor to effect 1‐bit electronic reconfigurability in one‐dimensional 1‐D leaky‐wave antennas (LWAs) is proposed. The model, based on the array factor, outlines the discrete control of the phase constant along the longitudinal direction of the LWA subsequently describing the beam scanning logic in the H‐plane. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is evaluated by comparison against full‐wave calculations. An extremely low‐profile electronically reconfigurable 21‐element LWA operating at X‐band is then fabricated and measured to validate the proposed concept. The individual antenna element making up the array is designed at X‐band and is capable of switching between radiating and non‐radiating states by use of a PIN diode used to control the resonant frequency of the element. The limitations of both the proposed approach and the antenna are also evaluated.