High-Gain Low-Cost Self-Covered Reflectarray Antenna

In this paper, a high-gain low-cost reflectarray antenna is proposed. This antenna does not need radome. The exploited dielectric is the FR4 epoxy which is both low-cost and mechanically robust. Reflector of the proposed antenna consists of a layer of FR4, suspended above the ground plane by spacer, with its re-radiating elements on its interior side. Superiority of the suggested antenna over the similar previously reported design is shown. For the proposed design, sensitivity of the phase-delay characteristic, number of elements and gain to the FR4 thickness is studied. In addition, effect of design tolerance for the dielectric and the air gap on the antenna gain is investigated.