A reconfigurable antenna element for improved physical layer control

A new reconfigurable phased array antenna element is described. This element operates at X-band and provides digital control of the effective antenna structure, and therefore, its far field pattern, frequency response, polarization, etc. This presents an opportunity to improve the performance of software-defined or cognitive radio systems for which improved reconfigurable filtering is needed [1]–[2]. Because this reconfiguration occurs at the antenna and outside the front end, it has the potential to increase the dynamic range available to a system when operating in close proximity to other users.