Integrating RF MEMS Switch on Array Antenna to Achieve Reconfigurability in Wideband Application

Abstract

Reconfigurable multi-band antennas are highly used for commercial as well as military purposes as a single antenna could be reconfigured dynamically to send and the receive multiple signals of different frequency simultaneously. In this work an antenna array is designed and integrated with RF MEMS shunt capacitive switch over it, for the applications of S,C,X-band in the frequency range of 2-12GHz. A membrane that can move freely over a coplanar waveguide serves as the MEMS switch. Here, a double meander tuned dual beam arrangement is used to increase switch isolation. Electrostatic mechanisms are used for actuators due to their low power requirements, compact design, and quick switching. By the simulation result, The beam starts to bend from 0.60793mm to 0.4116mm at the voltage 1.78492mV to 57.7382mV and it provides capacitance at 1.435pF to 1.597nF. It was noticed that the insertion loss (S21) and the return loss (S11) of a MEMS switch are around -0.079 dB and 20.618 dB correspondingly, in order to have a good switching characteristic in the up state. The switch has an insertion loss (S21) of -31.307 dB and return loss (S11) of about -0.256 dB in the up state thus exhibiting good switch characteristics. The RF MEMS shunt capacitive switch is integrated on the predesigned antenna array the dynamically shifting of the switch from on state to off state helps achieving the reconfigurability in the antenna array. Such antennas are applicable in spaceborne radar, communication satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned aircraft system and various other communication as well as sensing applications.