Title :
A Multifunctional Reconfigurable Pixeled Antenna Using MEMS Technology on Printed Circuit Board
Author :
Besoli, Alfred Grau ; De Flaviis, Franco
Author_Institution :
Univ. of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
Abstract :
A multifunctional reconfigurable pixeled antenna that uses microelectromechanical switches (MEMS) and operates within the 4-7 GHz frequency band is presented. The proposed antenna is a highly reconfigurable planar surface radiator composed of an npx × npx matrix of metallic pixels interconnected through MEMS switches. The antenna can be reconfigured to perform multiple functions such as: frequency tuning, pattern diversity, and polarization adaptation. A functional prototype using integrated MEMS switches was fabricated on a printed circuit board substrate, to show its feasibility and the impact of MEMS switches during operation. Simulated and measured data of the return loss and radiation characteristics of the antenna are presented.
Keywords :
antenna radiation patterns; microswitches; microwave antennas; printed circuits; frequency 4 GHz to 7 GHz; frequency tuning; integrated MEMS switches; microelectromechanical switches; multifunctional reconfigurable pixeled antenna; pattern diversity; polarization adaptation; printed circuit board substrate; radiation characteristics; reconfigurable planar surface radiator; return loss; Antenna radiation patterns; Microelectromechanical systems; Microswitches; Printed circuits; Reconfigurable architectures; Resonant frequency; Frequency tunable; MEMS; multifunctional antenna; pattern diversity; pixel antenna; polarization agile; reconfigurable antenna;
Journal_Title :
Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TAP.2011.2165470
