A distributed antenna tuning unit using a frequency reconfigurable PIXEL-antenna

In this work we present the design and performance analysis of a distributed antenna tuning unit using a frequency reconfigurable PIXEL antenna. The proposed tuning unit is distributed in the sense that it brings together the antenna and the traditional reconfigurable matching network (typically implemented with inductors and switched capacitors) into a reconfigurable antenna. As a result, the losses introduced by a reconfigurable matching network are eliminated, although additional complexity is put into the antenna system. Also, the proposed distributed system can use additional degrees of freedom provided by the PIXEL antenna (e.g. tunable radiation pattern) to minimize the interactions with the human body and thus help on the tuning of the antenna impedance. Results on the impedance tuning capabilities are presented.