Reconfigurable Single/Dual-Beam Steering Based on Compact 3 × 3 Nolen Matrix with Equal/Unequal Power Division and Phase Difference

This letter proposes a novel reconfigurable single/dual-beam steering method, which is based on a compact reconfigurable 3 × 3 Nolen matrix. Rigorous calculations of the array factor show that signals with equal/unequal power divisions and phase differences are required for the single/dual beam steering system. The system is fed by a 3 × 3 Nolen matrix implemented with parallel and orthogonal vector synthesis. For demonstration, the proposed single/dual-beam steering system is designed, fabricated, and measured. The core region of the feeding network occupies 124 mm² (0.46×0.74 λg²) at the operating frequency of 9.7 GHz. By switching the ON/OFF state of a reconfigurable phase shifter in the 3 × 3 Nolen matrix, single/dual-beam steering is achieved. In the OFF state, the antenna array radiates single beams at 90°, 126°, and 57°, excited at ports 1−3, respectively. In the ON state, it radiates dual beams at 90°±25° and 90°±48°, excited ports 2 and 3, respectively. © 2024 IEEE.