Electromagnetic Modeling and Simulation of a Directly Modulated Patch Antenna

The direct modulation of an L -band microstrip patch antenna with integrated fast-switching p-i-n diodes is explored over a range of modulation frequencies well beyond the resonant bandwidth of the antenna. Electromagnetic simulation of one embodiment of a directly modulated antenna, including an equivalent circuit model for the p-i-n diode as a function of bias voltage, provides insight into the mechanisms behind the modulation effect and serves as a design tool to optimize and predict the modulation of the antenna radiation pattern.