Low-profile metamaterial with ultra-wide band ratio based on active frequency selective surfaces

This paper presents a low-profile metamaterial with ultra-wide band ratio (BR) based on active frequency selective surfaces (AFSSs) to overcome the limited tuning range and suboptimal profile of current designs. The proposed design consists of a periodic pattern printed on the top of a thin substrate and a bias network on the bottom, with varactor diodes symmetrically integrated into the top metal layer. Based on the equivalent circuit model, the mechanism of wideband tuning is analyzed theoretically. The corresponding simulation results indicate that the designed AFSS can achieve a large tuning range for the first operating band from 1.12 to 7.86 GHz while maintaining stability in the second operating band. This allows for a continuous variation from a small BR to a large BR, with a tuning range reaching 601.79%. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that the concept of band ratio range (BRR) has been proposed to characterize the level of BR variation. Considering the feasibility of fabrication and limitations due to the tuning range of a single commercially available varactor diode, measurements were performed based on two fabricated prototypes. The simulation results are consistent with the experimental results. Compared with existing literature, the proposed AFSS can provide significant advantages such as good angular stability, polarization insensitivity, miniaturization, and ultra-wideband tunability. Our design is applicable to controlling the propagation of electromagnetic waves in various communication systems and is well-suited for electromagnetic shielding in communication devices or optical devices across different frequency bands.