Abstract

In this paper, a mechanically reconfigurable antenna is proposed to overcome the limitations of conventional patch antennas, particularly their static radiation patterns in millimeter-wave (mmWave) 5G applications. The proposed design integrates a physically rotating metasurface above a compact patch antenna, enabling dynamic beam steering through a simple mechanical rotation. A key contribution of this work is the clear and highly predictable relationship between the metasurface rotation angle and the resulting main lobe direction. By rotating the metasurface to specific positions, the main beam is precisely steered to 0∘, 90∘, 180∘, and 270∘ in direct correspondence with the metasurface rotation angle. For clarity and conciseness, four representative rotation states are selected and analyzed in this work, although the proposed antenna inherently supports continuous beam steering as a function of the metasurface rotation angle. Full-wave electromagnetic simulations, utilizing a RT/Duroid 5880 substrate, confirm a resonance frequency at 28 GHz with a bandwidth of 1.7 GHz, covering the frequency range from 27.15 GHz to 28.85 GHz. The results confirm notable performance improvements, with the antenna achieving a maximum realized gain of 8.66 dBi and its radiation efficiency increasing from 90% to 94% after metasurface integration. The proposed antenna offers a compact structure, high efficiency, and reliable beam steering without the need for complex feeding networks or active components, making it a promising solution for next-generation wireless communication systems.

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