journal article·2025-01-08Open access

Optimization Tools for the Design of Meta-Covers for Linear Antenna with Beam- and Null-Steering Capabilities

Michela Longhi, Stefano Vellucci, Mirko Barbuto, Alessio Monti, Filiberto Bilotti, Alessandro Toscano

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 2

Abstract

This paper investigates the optimization of cylindrical metasurface meta-covers designed to enable beamforming capabilities in single linear antennas. This study focuses on the development and application of advanced optimization tools to tailor the electromagnetic response of these metasurfaces, enabling precise control over the radiation patterns of the antenna. In particular, we develop a genetic algorithm-based optimization tool, which achieves precise manipulation of the main beam direction and null placement in the radiation pattern. The results further expand the applications of metasurface-based meta-covers in enhancing the functionality of dipole antennas in various communication and sensing systems.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Antenna Design and Optimization · Advanced Antenna and Metasurface Technologies · Antenna Design and Analysis

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Engineering, Niccolò Cusano University, Via Don Carlo Gnocchi, 3, 00166 Rome, Italy

Department of Industrial, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Roma Tre University, Via Vito Volterra, 62, 00146 Rome, Italy

Funding

Italian Ministry of University and Research

References (41)

Show source-provided references
1. Electrically-steerable single-layer microstrip traveling wave antenna with varactor diode based phase shifters10.1109/TAP.2007.904104 ↗
2. A novel millimeter-wave dual-fed phased array for beam steering10.1109/TMTT.2013.2267935 ↗
3. Direction finding with partly calibrated uniform linear arrays10.1109/TAP.2011.2173144 ↗
4. Improved two-antenna direction finding inspired by human ears10.1109/TAP.2011.2152348 ↗
5. An electronically stabilized phased array system for shipborne atmospheric wind profiling10.1175/1520-0426(2002)019<0924:AESPAS>2.0.CO;2 ↗
6. Jayakrishnan, V.M., and Vijayan, D.M. (2020, January 5–7). Performance analysis of smart antenna for marine communication. Proceedings of the 2020 2nd International Conference on Innovative Mechanisms for Industry Applications (ICIMIA), Bangalore, India.10.1109/ICIMIA48430.2020.9074900 ↗
7. High-frequency radars: Beamforming calibrations using ships as reflectors10.1175/JTECH-D-12-00105.1 ↗
8. Lockie, D.G., Sereno, M., and Thomson, M. (1997). Spacecraft Antennas and Beam Steering Methods for Satellite Communication System. (5 642 122), U.S. Patent.
9. Continuous beam steering and null tracking with a fixed multiple-beam antenna array system10.1109/TAP.1964.1138284 ↗
10. Multi-Antenna Jamming in Covert Communication10.1109/TCOMM.2021.3067386 ↗
11. Novel Interference Suppression Null Steering Antenna System for High Precision Positioning10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2988881 ↗
12. Simple and Accurate Received Signal Strength-Based Localization Using Compact Null-Steering Antennas10.1109/LAWP.2022.3214540 ↗
13. High-Impedance Surface-Based Null-Steering Antenna for Angle-of-Arrival Estimation10.1109/TAP.2021.3137469 ↗
14. State-of-the-Art Passive Beam-Steering Antenna Technologies: Challenges and Capabilities10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3278570 ↗
15. Yang, W., Li, J., Chen, D., Cao, Y., Xue, Q., and Che, W. (2024). Advanced Metasurface-Based Antennas: A review. IEEE Open J. Antennas Propag.10.1109/OJAP.2024.3465513 ↗
16. Review of Metasurface Antennas for Computational Microwave Imaging10.1109/TAP.2020.2968795 ↗
17. Null-Steering Antenna Design Using Phase-Shifted Characteristic Modes10.1109/TAP.2016.2556700 ↗
18. Beamforming: A versatile approach to spatial filtering10.1109/53.665 ↗
19. Yang, J., Lu, J., Liu, X., and Liao, G. (2020). Robust null broadening beamforming based on covariance matrix reconstruction via virtual interference sources. Sensors, 20.10.3390/s20071865 ↗
20. Movable-Antenna Array Enhanced Beamforming: Achieving Full Array Gain with Null Steering10.1109/LCOMM.2023.3323656 ↗
21. Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces as the key-enabling technology for smart electromagnetic environments
22. Active tuning of directional scattering by combining magneto-optical effects and multipolar interferences10.1039/C8NR05692G ↗
23. ENZ medium triggered collapse of Fano resonances and emergence of generalized nonreciprocal Kerker effects by subwavelength hybrid meta-atoms10.1103/PhysRevB.108.235413 ↗
24. Vellucci, S., Monti, A., Barbuto, M., Longhi, M., Hamzavi-Zarghani, Z., Ramaccia, D., Stefanini, L., Toscano, A., and Bilotti, F. (2023, January 20–22). Meta-Covers for Antennas. Proceedings of the 2023 IEEE International Workshop on Technologies for Defense and Security (TechDefense), Rome, Italy.10.1109/TechDefense59795.2023.10380822 ↗
25. Longhi, M., Vellucci, S., Barbuto, M., Monti, A., Zarghani, Z.H., Stefanini, L., Ramaccia, D., Bilotti, F., and Toscano, A. (2023, January 11–16). Circular Array Synthesis of Huygens Coatings Beamforming Metasurfaces. Proceedings of the 2023 Seventeenth International Congress on Artificial Materials for Novel Wave Phenomena (Metamaterials), Chania, Greece.10.1109/Metamaterials58257.2023.10289485 ↗
26. Array Synthesis of Circular Huygens Metasurfaces for Antenna Beam-Shaping10.1109/LAWP.2023.3315774 ↗
27. Singh, K., and Esselle, K. (2023). Suppressing sidelobes in metasurface-based antennas using a cross-entropy method variant and full wave electromagnetic simulations. Electronics, 12.10.20944/preprints202309.0450.v1 ↗
28. Broadband continuous beam-steering with time-modulated metasurfaces in the near-infrared spectral regime10.1063/5.0051815 ↗
29. Wang, P.-Y., Rennings, A., and Erni, D. (2020, January 8–11). A Liquid Crystal Based Dynamic Metasurface for Beam Steering and Computational Imaging. Proceedings of the 2020 IEEE Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference (APMC), Hong Kong, China.10.1109/APMC47863.2020.9331687 ↗
30. Phase-Gradient Huygens’ Metasurface Coatings for Dynamic Beamforming in Linear Antennas10.1109/TAP.2023.3297193 ↗
31. King, R.W.P., Fikioris, G.J., and Mack, R.B. (2002). Cylindrical Antennas and Arrays, Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CBO9780511541100 ↗
32. Wu, G., Yu, W., Lin, T., Deng, Y., and Liu, J. (2020). Ultra-wideband RCS reduction based on non-planar coding diffusive metasurface. Materials, 13.10.3390/ma13214773 ↗
33. Antenna Arrays around Cylinders10.1109/JRPROC.1943.233684 ↗
34. Analysis and characterization of a wide-angle impedance matching metasurface for dipole phased arrays10.1109/TAP.2015.2448231 ↗
35. Lin, C.Y., Lu, Y.S., and Lin, W.P. (2022, January 19–20). Design of Beamforming Phased Array Antenna for 5G Communication. Proceedings of the 2022 10th International Japan-Africa Conference on Electronics, Communications, and Computations (JAC-ECC), Alexandria, Egypt.10.1109/JAC-ECC56395.2022.10043987 ↗
36. Yao, J., Capmany, J., and Li, M. (2024). Microwave Photonics Beamforming Networks for Phased Array Antennas. Microwave Photonics, IEEE.10.1002/9781394205318 ↗
37. Energy Efficiency of mmWave Massive MIMO Precoding with Low-Resolution DACs10.1109/JSTSP.2018.2824762 ↗
38. Discontinuous electromagnetic fields using orthogonal electric and magnetic currents for wavefront manipulation10.1364/OE.21.014409 ↗
39. Perfect control of reflection and refraction using spatially dispersive metasurfaces10.1103/PhysRevB.94.075142 ↗
40. Metamaterial Huygens’ surfaces: Tailoring wave fronts with reflectionless sheets10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.197401 ↗
41. Efficient Light Bending with Isotropic Metamaterial Huygens’ Surfaces10.1021/nl5001746 ↗