Millimeter-wave EBG-based antenna pattern diversity

Millimeter-wave (MMW) electromagnetic bandgap (EBG)-based dielectric resonator (DR) antenna with beam steering capability is presented. Six EBG sectors of several cells are placed symmetrically around the DR antenna to achieve beam steering in the azimuth plane. Each sector is composed of twenty one circular-patch mushroom EBG unit cell. The vias in each sector are connected through thin metallic veins printed on a conductor-backed dielectric slab. The metallic veins are then connected to the ground plane through a switching diode. By switching the diode on and off, the EBG sector band-stop and band-pass properties are changed, yielding beam steering into that sector. Results show flexible and effective beam steering capability in the azimuth plane using minimal number of diodes.