A Reconfigurable Simultaneous Transmitting and Reflecting Array With Independent and Continuous Controls of Phases and Transmission-Reflection Ratio

This article proposes a novel simultaneous transmitting and reflecting (STAR) array capable of independently manipulating the transmitted phase, reflected phase, and the transmission-reflection (T-R) power ratio. A reconfigurable metasurface (RMTS) employing a novel controlling scheme is proposed in this article, which can realize a full range tuning on the transmitted/reflective phases synchronously or a hybrid continuous-discrete control in asynchronous mode. Meanwhile, the T-R ratio of the RMTS can be continuously and arbitrarily tuned from total transmission to total reflection without affecting the phases. The core of the RMTS is a hybrid coupler loaded with two reflective phase shifters with independently controllable phases. Based on this RMTS, a 9× 9 STAR array with a center operating frequency of 5.8 GHz is constructed to validate the design. Both simulated and measured results demonstrate that the proposed STAR array achieves ±45° beam scanning independently on both sides with high aperture efficiency while maintaining arbitrary T-R ratio tuning capability. This design enhances the STAR array's control capabilities over both phase and power division, making it more favorable in future wireless communication systems.