Experimental demonstration of contoured beam reflectarrays for satellite applications

Resumen

A three-layer refletarray with patches of variable size that radiates a contoured beam at Ku-b and defined fo r Eutelsat satellite W3A at 7º East has been designed, manufactured and tested. A square reflectarray of side 1-m has been considered. For electrical design, first a phase-only synthesis technique based on the alternating projection method has been applied to obtain the phase distribution on the reflectarray surface for the specified contoured beam; and then, the patch dimensions are adjusted at each radiating element to achieve this phase distribution at several frequencies in the working band for dual linear polarisation. An appropriate mechanical design has been carried out, in order to minimise possible thermo-elastic distortions. A breadboard has been manufactured and measured in anechoic chamber. The results show a contoured beam close to the required coverage.