Low-cost single-layer broadband reflectarray for satellite communications

This paper presents a novel broadband single-layer reflectarray for satellite communications. The antenna has low cost. Both the design and measurement results are obtained and discussed. The element in the reflectarray provides a nearly 360° linear phase range. The reflectarray is fed by a printed microstrip log-periodic dipole antenna. The broadband characteristic of the reflectarray is obtained due to the sub-wavelength of the element space. Finally, a prime-focus 256-element reflectarray at C band is designed and simulated. The obtained 3-dB gain bandwidth reaches 28.8% (from 4.45 to 5.95GHz). The antenna is planar and has low cost, suitable for small satellites applications.