A versatile beam steering double square loop antenna for modern wireless communications

Abstract

A novel method of producing and switching multiple beams using double square loop (DSL) antenna is proposed. By switching the feed point, the pattern can be steered at a coarse step of 45° throughout the 360° of space and the associated beam can be directed in eight directions, thus offering a wide range of options for modern wireless devices to focus the beam at a desired target direction. Furthermore, with varying permittivity value of dielectric substrate, the DSL produces axial and tilted beams of fine varying degree of elevation. The variation in the permittivity can be achieved electronically by using substrates made up of materials such as liquid crystals or ferro-electric materials (Barium Titanate, Barium Strontium Titanate or Lead Titanate) which may be constituted in a fine grained random polycrystalline or a ceramic form. The average gain of antenna beams is 8.2dBi. The beam steerable DSL antenna is designed to operate in the frequency band of 2.5 GHz to 5.8 GHz and is very likely to have direct applications in high data rate systems such as UWB, WIMAX and 4G networks.