Accurate Direction-of-Arrival Estimation Method based on Space-Time
Modulated Metasurface
Abstract
In this paper, we present a metasurface-based Direction of Arrival (DoA)
estimation method that exploits the properties of space-time modulated
reflecting metasurfaces to estimate in real-time the impinging angle of
an illuminating monochromatic plane wave. The approach makes use of the
amplitude unbalance of the received fields at broadside at the
frequencies of the two first-order harmonics generated by the
interaction between the incident plane wave and the modulated
metasurface. Here, we first describe analytically how to generate the
desired higher-order harmonics in the reflected spectrum and how to
realize the breaking of the spatial symmetry of each order harmonic
scattering pattern. Then, the one dimensional (1D) omnidirectional
incident angle can be analytically computed using +1st and -1st order
harmonics. The approach is also extended to 2D DoA estimation by using
two orthogonally arranged 1D DoA modulation arrays. The accuracy of 1D
DoA estimation is verified through full-wave numerical simulations.
Compared to conventional DoA estimation methods, the proposed approach
simplifies the computation and hardware complexity, ensuring at the same
time estimation accuracy. The proposed method may have potential
applications in wireless communications, target recognition, and
identification.