Traveling Wave Antenna-on-Display Featuring Simultaneous 2-D Phase and Frequency Beam Scanning for Integrated Sensing and Communication

This paper reports the first traveling wave antenna (TWA) concept for integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) applications. The frequency-dependent beam steering capability of the TWA enables dynamic spatial scanning performance for both radar and communication systems. However, TWA features a large physical footprint due to the large number of unit cells and termination requirements. To mitigate such size constraints, this antenna is further realized within the display panel denoted as traveling wave antenna-on-display (TWAoD). The exemplified optically invisible antenna array is fabricated and achieves two-dimensional (2D) simultaneous phase scanning (PS) and frequency scanning (FS) mode. Denoted as hybrid beam steering in this paper, this function is crucial for ISAC. Experimental results show that the design achieves high gain and dual mode capability for radar and communication at 24 and 28 GHz, respectively. By addressing core limitations of current ISAC antennas, this solution establishes a new concept for compact, high-performance solutions providing a scalable approach for modern mobile, automotive and other pragmatic and emerging scenarios.