Frequency reconfigurable spirograph planar monopole antenna (SPMA)

Today´s communication systems demand both increased performance and reduced size. A frequency reconfigurable antenna provides the capability for the antenna to operate in only the desired frequency range while rejecting neighboring ones. This reduces interference which will consequently increase S/N ratio, thus channel capacity or power efficiency. An antenna which covers multiple bands provides an aperture which can be used for multiple applications, thus a reusable aperture, or the entire bandwidth can be used simultaneously to provide high data rate. Also by consolidating the number of antennas required, the overall size of the system is decreased. If the antenna dimension is small enough such that it can be used as a scanning array element (typically <; 0.6λ at the highest frequency of operation), high gain and/or beam scanning applications can be accommodated [1], which further increases performance. A reusable aperture, high data rate capability, and beam scanning capability create a multi-purpose system, which decreases the number of antennas required to cover various applications while increasing system capability.