LAUSR

A microstrip patch electronically‐steerable parasitic array radiator (ESPAR) with continuous frequency reconfigurability is presented in this paper. Loading varactors are strategically placed on the radiating edge of all antenna elements to achieve a 15% continuous frequency tuning range, from 0.87 to 1.02 GHz. At each operating frequency, this ESPAR is able to scan from −20 to 20° in the H plane. Therefore, this ESPAR is able to provide spectrum diversity in addition to the spatial diversity inherent in a frequency‐fixed ESPAR. The underlying physics and design procedures of this ESPAR are presented. The return losses at different operating frequencies and scan angles, radiation patterns, realized gains, and third‐order input intercept point (IIP3) are also measured.