Beam-switched rhombic antenna

In this paper, we show how a rhombic antenna can be operated in a degenerat e fashion in order to produce a switched beam. The antenna demonstrator des igned to operate at 1 GHz is shown to beam scan in elevation by about 10 de grees, controlled only by the use of a switched 500 Ohm resistor. Under the se conditions, the antenna exhibits a sending end impedance variant of 1.6: 1. This type of antenna could find application for use in low-cost vehicula r and asset-tracking applications. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.