RCS Reconfiguration of an Antenna Array Based on the 1-bit Reconfigurable Load Impedance

The radar cross section (RCS) reconfiguration ofthe antenna is necessary for low-observable platforms. Thus, thisarticle studies the RCS control of the antenna array based on the1-bit reconfigurable load impedance. First, the tuning method ofthe antenna scattering field is analyzed theoretically. It is derivedthat the amplitude and phase of the antenna’s scattering fieldcan be tuned by changing its load impedance. Subsequently, PINdiodes are implemented to control the load impedance. Whenthe PIN diode switches, the antenna’s scattering field meets thecondition of equal amplitude and a phase difference of 180◦.As a result, the RCS of the antenna array can be controlled.Moreover, by introducing an additional prephase, the inherentsymmetric dual-beam issue of 1-bit reconfigurable structuresis overcome, achieving single-beam scanning of the scatteringfield. Finally, a 1 × 16 linear antenna array is designed andfabricated, which operates at 6 GHz with a radiation gainof 16.3 dBi. The scattering beams of the designed array canscan within ±45◦, which significantly reduces the in-band andcopolarized monostatic RCS. The measured results align wellwith the simulated ones.