Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna Controlled by Multi-Reed Switches

A frequency reconfigurable patch antenna using reed switches to connect the patch with the ground plane is proposed. Compared with other voltage-controlled switches like MEMS and PIN diodes, reed switches are controlled by a magnetic field which can penetrate the ground plane easily. In this way, the control circuit can be placed beneath the ground plane to avoid its impacts on the radiation performance of the antenna. Twenty-four reed switches are used to increase the reconfigurability of the antenna and to show the feasibility of our concept when multiple control circuits are used simultaneously. The presented antenna can be reconfigured to operate in the frequency range from 0.3 to 3 GHz, covering for a large number of communication services. Three operating modes of the antenna (with resonance frequencies at 0.8, 2, and 2.85 GHz, respectively) are presented to illustrate the feasibility of this method. The measured matching and radiation characteristics of the fabricated antenna prototype agree well with the simulations.