A novel phase shifter based patch antenna integrated electrostatic peristaltic micropumps

This paper demonstrates a novel phase shifter integrated with a patch antenna employing electrostatic peristaltic micropumps underneath the patch antenna. First, a method of phase-shifting with a transmission line integrated electrostatic peristaltic micropumps at different positions is presented. Simulation results of phase S₂₁ for these configurations show nearly 120deg phase-shifting while locating micropumps at three different positions or varying the dielectric constant of the fluid inside the micropumps. An electrostatic peristaltic micropump has the advantage of a low profile which can be used for lab-on-a-chip applications. For a patch antenna, simulations of these configurations show that about 10deg to 45deg phase-shift was obtained while employing different numbers of micropumps or varying the dielectric permittivity of the fluid inside the micropump with slight change of the resonant frequency. By improving the structure or using different dielectric permittivity of fluids, large phase-shifts could be achieved. This phase-shifter, integrated with micropumps, makes it possible to realize phase-shift without bulky and costly digital phase-shifters or other microstrip phase-shifters