Beam Reconfigurable Antenna Research Articles

Four-port beam reconfigurable antenna array for pattern diversity system

This study investigates a practical design for a switched beam planar antenna that can be implemented as a compact, low-cost switchable and/or reconfigurable beam antenna array. The antenna consists of a four-port antenna array, which is based on L-shaped quarter-wavelength slot antenna elements. This type of antenna array is a planar structure and its maximum directional radiation beam pattern presents in an azimuth plane covering 3600. The antenna array operates based on the `ON' or `OFF' states of PIN diodes in each individual slot antenna element and the combined signals from the four-port output. Therefore by properly controlling the state of the PIN diodes, the antenna exposes its characteristics of switchable/ reconfigurable beam patterns in the Φ-plane. To validate the proposed design, a small smart, switched-beam antenna operating at 2.7 GHz in multiple input-multiple output applications is simulated and fabricated.

Design and measurement of beam reconfigurable antenna based on folded dipole structure

A reconfigurable antenna based on a folded dipole structure has been designed to operate at 2.45 GHz. The antenna consists of a folded dipole and a reflector. Depending on the states of the switches, the antenna symmetrically changes its shape and thus steers the beam pattern. The measured reflection coefficient and radiation pattern are presented. Also, the antenna is shown to have a larger gain with the reflector than without.

Frequency and Beam Reconfigurable Antenna Using Photoconducting Switches

A design for an optically reconfigurable printed dipole antenna is presented. A wideband coplanar waveguide (CPW) to coplanar stripline (CPS) transition is used to feed the balanced printed dipole. Two silicon photo switches are placed on small gaps in both dipole arms equidistant from the centre feed. Light from two infrared laser diodes channelled through fiber optic cables is applied to the switches. With the gaps in the dipole bridged, the antenna resonates at a lower frequency. Measured return loss results that compare well to the simulated values are also presented, showing a frequency shift of nearly 40%. The change in bore-sight gain along with radiation patterns are also presented. Activating each switch individually results in a near 50/spl deg/ shift in beam nulls.