Multibeam transmit-reflect-array antenna with switchable bidirectional radiation for IoT applications
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Date
2026-08-25
Authors
Ma, Yihan
Du, Nijia
Luo, Qi
Ouyang, Xing
Xing, Zijian
Wang, Ling
Yang, Guangwei
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Published Version
Abstract
Exploring cost-effective configurations to achieving wide beam scanning in full-spherical direction is an appealing topic for wireless communications and the Internet of Things (IoT), yet realizing it within the scope of conventional multiple feeding sources reflectarray/transmitarray is extremely challenging. This article proposes a bidirectional multibeam transmi-treflect-array (TRA) using a multi-layer passive metasurface, which enables beam steering switchable between hemispherical and full-spherical directions. First, we demonstrate a novel stacked unit cell composed of a circular ring-based structure and a polarization-sensitive patch structure. Based on the designed unit cell, two 24×24-element arrays are placed above and below the feed antenna, respectively. By simply rotating the angle of the metasurface layers and subsequently exciting the feed antennas, the designed TRA is able to scan beams along the +z, −z, or ±z direction. In both unidirectional and bidirectional states, forward and backward beam-scanning is achieved within an angular range of ±55°, with peak aperture efficiencies of 13.9% and 11.6%, respectively. The measured results of the prototype also demonstrate that the proposed TRA can steer in both unidirectional and bidirectional operating modes. The proposed method opens a new avenue for the design of cost-effective, easy-to-fabricate, and wide-angle beam-scanning multifunctional TRAs, making it particularly suitable for next-generation IoT communication systems that require wide angular coverage and full-space connectivity.
Description
Keywords
Beamforming , Bidirectional radiation , Transmit-reflect-array , Wide-angle coverage , [TyndallMicroNano]
Citation
Ma, Y, Du, N, Luo, Q, Ouyang, X, Xing, Z, Wang, L & Yang, G 2026, 'Multibeam transmit-reflect-array antenna with switchable bidirectional radiation for IoT applications', IEEE Internet of Things Journal, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2026.3727129
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© 2026, IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.