A Dynamic Pattern Dipole Antenna for Secure Wireless Communications

Abstract

We present the design and measurement of a switched dipole antenna for directional modulation in a single antenna via radiation pattern dynamics. The antenna is fed by a single port, the output of which is fed to two locations on the dipole. By switching between the two states, the complex radiation pattern is quasi-static within a secure region in the mainlobe, and dynamic outside of the secure region. We show that the complex pattern dynamics outside the secure region impart additional modulation onto the radiation pattern that will distort transmitted or received data. We present the design of the dynamic pattern antenna and measured radiation patterns of the two antenna states. We numerically characterize the secure wireless capability through calculation of the bit-error-ratio on various digital modulations in communications, demonstrating the ability to maintain a small secure region.