Phase control reflector element

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A microwave phase control reflector element comprises a planar dipole adjacent to a dielectric substrate. The phase of radiation reflected from the dipole is controlled by a variable impedance load connected between the two dipole limbs. The dielectric constant of the substrate material is such that the dipole couples only to radiation incident from the substrate side. The variable impedance is either comparable to the dipole impedance and reactive or equivalent to an, open or short circuit to provide efficient reflection. A pair of crossed dipoles may be utilised to achieve independent control of both the phase and the polarisation of the reflected radiation. Many dipoles may be combined, …