Millimeter wave frequency reconfigurable quasi-Yagi antenna

A millimeter wave frequency reconfigurable quasi-Yagi antenna with a folded dipole driven element is presented. Two PIN diodes are inserted between the upper and lower strip of the folded dipole driver. By switching between different states of PIN diodes, the driven element of the antenna can be changed from a folded dipole with one parasitic director to a dipole with two parasitic directors. Due to the reconfigurable impedance characteristics of driven element, the proposed antenna can operate in either the typical millimeter wave WPAN band (57-66GHz) or E-band (71-76GHz). Similar end-fire radiation patterns are achieved across the entire tunable frequency range. Preliminary theoretical results on tuning range and radiation patterns for the reconfigurable antenna are described.