Ultra-low frequency reconfigurable magnetoelectric antenna based on mechanical regulation mechanism

Abstract

Based on the mechanical oscillation principle of the magnetoelectric (ME) antenna, an ultra-low frequency (ULF) reconfigurable ME antenna based on the mechanical regulation method was proposed in this study, which can effectively serve as an underwater electromagnetic sensor. The ME antenna’s multidimensional performance, such as working frequency, bandwidth, and the quality factor (Q), can be tuned in an extensive dynamic range without damaging the antenna’s structure. Based on the oscillation theory of the ME antenna, the corresponding equivalent circuit model was also constructed, and the multidimensional tuning method of the ME antenna was quantitatively analyzed. Finally, a prototype was fabricated, and the reconfigurable characteristics of the ME antenna were tested in the mechanical domain and the electromagnetic domain, respectively, which verified the feasibility and effectiveness of the mechanical regulation method. Experimental results demonstrated that the working frequency, bandwidth and Q value regulation ranges were 138 ∼ 1133 Hz, 14 ∼ 222 Hz and 2.85 ∼ 22.57, respectively. The proposed work based on the mechanical actuators is the first reported reconfigurable ME antenna without structural damages. This technique has potential in solving the realistic narrow-band problem of the existing ME antennas and working frequency deviation problem in the ME antenna array application. These benefits help increase the information capability and the array scale, thus pave the way for realizing high-quality underwater sensing.