A Novel Strip-Slot Divider Incorporated 2D Beam Switching Single Layer Microstrip Patch Array Antenna Using Both-Sided MIC Technique

In this study, a two-dimensional (2D) beam-switching 2×2 microstrip patch array antenna is designed and simulated, incorporating a novel strip-slot divider facilitating both-sided MIC technology. The proposed antenna is constructed on a 0.8 mm thick Teflon substrate with a 0.2 mm wide slot line in the ground plane for X-band applications. The slot line in the shape of a vertically flipped "T" and two parallel microstrip lines on the substrate form the hybrid junction at the center of the design. The design has six p-i-n diodes, two of which are along two straight microstrip lines feeding the patches and four of which are along the two delay lines. Depending on the diodes’ ON/OFF status and phase variations at the two input ports, the antenna can switch its beam to five unique directions along the ϕ = 0° and ϕ = 90° plane. The simulation findings show that the antenna has good matching at the resonance frequency of 10 GHz, having reflection coefficient and isolation values less than -10 dB, and can direct the beam to a maximum of ±15° and ±16° along ϕ =0° and ϕ =90° planes, respectively.