3D printed microfluidics-based reconfigurable antenna

Anwar, Muhammad Sabieh; Bangert, A.

doi:10.1109/imws-amp.2017.8247364

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…A wide variety of LM patterning techniques for fabrication of general electronic circuits including microwave components were discussed in [48]. Most of the same fabrication/patterning techniques for conventional antennas, including the soft lithographic method [4], direct wiring technique [49], stencil printing, 3D printing [50], and substrate milling [9], also apply to LM antennas. In addition to that, most LM antennas are fabricated using a multitude of methods simultaneously.…”

Section: Patterning Methods For Liquid Antenna Fabricationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid Metal Antennas: Materials, Fabrication and Applications

Paracha

Butt

Alghamdi

et al. 2019

Sensors

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This work reviews design aspects of liquid metal antennas and their corresponding applications. In the age of modern wireless communication technologies, adaptability and versatility have become highly attractive features of any communication device. Compared to traditional conductors like copper, the flow property and lack of elasticity limit of conductive fluids, makes them an ideal alternative for applications demanding mechanically flexible antennas. These fluidic properties also allow innovative antenna fabrication techniques like 3D printing, injecting, or spraying the conductive fluid on rigid/flexible substrates. Such fluids can also be easily manipulated to implement reconfigurability in liquid antennas using methods like micro pumping or electrochemically controlled capillary action as compared to traditional approaches like high-frequency switching. In this work, we discuss attributes of widely used conductive fluids, their novel patterning/fabrication techniques, and their corresponding state-of-the-art applications.Most of the conventional antennas are fabricated by etching the copper cladding on the rigid substrates to form static conductor shapes. Such antennas are highly efficient but suffer from irreversible structure deformation and even damage when being bent or stretched beyond certain limits [3]. As alternatives, several types of copper-coated polymer substrates such as Kapton, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) films have been investigated to accommodate the need in flexible applications such as antennas. Similar to conventional substrates, the electrical properties of these substrates also degrade after severe bending/stretching, which in turn reduces antenna efficiency. Another option is polymer-based materials such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which has been typically used in combination with copper foils to realize highly flexible antennas. However, the semi-rigid copper foils may potentially suffer from irreversible deformation after certain bending cycles. Alternatively, liquid metals can be injected into microfluidic channels to fabricate highly flexible and mechanically stable antennas without compromising their electrical properties [4].In [5], a broader review of fluidics-based tuning methods for the development of microwave components was presented. Although, this included a review of antennas based on dielectric/conductive fluids, it primarily covered flexible and frequency-tunable antenna/arrays and lacked depth on polarization/pattern reconfigurability techniques. Additionally, discussion of recent advancements in state-of-the-art liquid metal applications was also missing in [5]. In [6], a mini review of flexible and stretchable antennas based on textile materials was discussed. Here, the focus was on the benefits of conductive filler-based elastomers used in antennas for bio-integrated electronics applications and the trade-off between antenna stretchability and its performance. However, a detailed review of materials, novel fabrication te...

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Section: Patterning Methods For Liquid Antenna Fabricationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid Metal Antennas: Materials, Fabrication and Applications

Paracha

Butt

Alghamdi

et al. 2019

Sensors

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“…Next, a tunable dual-band patch antenna was studied in [ 46 ]. This antenna was implemented using the 3D printing technique on a Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrate, and channels on a double patch antenna were fabricated using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM).…”

Section: Design Concepts Of Nontoxic Liquid Metal Reconfigurable Amentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, antennas with a wide bandwidth (ranging from 2.2 to 9.3 GHz) can be designed using shaped liquid metal, as highlighted in [ 32 ]. On the other hand, a double switchable patch operated between 14.2 and 15.1 GHz in [ 46 ] resulted in a moderate gain from 3 to 3.7 dBi. When implemented on stretchable materials, the reconfigurable antenna in [ 47 ] achieved a 150% stretching elasticity.…”

Section: Design Concepts Of Nontoxic Liquid Metal Reconfigurable Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid-Based Reconfigurable Antenna Technology: Recent Developments, Challenges and Future

Bakar

Rahim

Soh

et al. 2021

Sensors

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Advances in reconfigurable liquid-based reconfigurable antennas are enabling new possibilities to fulfil the requirements of more advanced wireless communication systems. In this review, a comparative analysis of various state-of-the-art concepts and techniques for designing reconfigurable antennas using liquid is presented. First, the electrical properties of different liquids at room temperature commonly used in reconfigurable antennas are identified. This is followed by a discussion of various liquid actuation techniques in enabling high frequency reconfigurability. Next, the liquid-based reconfigurable antennas in literature used to achieve the different types of reconfiguration will be critically reviewed. These include frequency-, polarization-, radiation pattern-, and compound reconfigurability. The current concepts of liquid-based reconfigurable antennas can be classified broadly into three basic approaches: altering the physical (and electrical) dimensions of antennas using liquid; applying liquid-based sections as reactive loads; implementation of liquids as dielectric resonators. Each concept and their design approaches will be examined, outlining their benefits, limitations, and possible future improvements.

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“…In this case, the nozzle temperature is kept at 243 C, in order to keep the material flow consistent, since the flow inconsistencies can produce bubbling that translates into uneven surface printing. 17,18 The printing bed is medium heated (102 C) to prevent warping. The 3D printed design is shown in Figure 5.…”

Section: Fabrication Of Lens Geometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

3D printed dielectric lens for the gain enhancement of a broadband antenna

Anwar

Abufanas

Bangert

2020

Int J RF Microw Comput Aided Eng

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A novel 3D printed dielectric lens to enhance antenna gain parameters is presented. The lens is fabricated using a fused deposition method (FDM) which is a cost‐effective and an efficient 3D printing technique. Poly‐methyl methacrylate (PMMA) is used as a dielectric material due to its good RF properties. The thickness of the dielectric lens is 14 mm and provides a gain enhancement of up to 6.9 dBi over a wide frequency range. The dielectric lens is designed and computationally analyzed to demonstrate refractive index value close to zero. It has been shown that impedance‐matched near‐zero refractive index lens geometry eliminates strong reflections, and consequently enhances the antenna gain. A correlation is established between the individually, stacked unit cell layers and near‐zero refractive index cut‐off frequencies. The claim is substantiated through measured results using a broadband Vivaldi antenna. A gain enhancement of up to 6.9 dBi is recorded for the bandwidth from 13.5 to 24 GHz. An excellent correlation is reported between the measured and simulated results.

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3D printed microfluidics-based reconfigurable antenna

Cited by 14 publications

References 9 publications

Liquid Metal Antennas: Materials, Fabrication and Applications

Liquid Metal Antennas: Materials, Fabrication and Applications

Liquid-Based Reconfigurable Antenna Technology: Recent Developments, Challenges and Future

3D printed dielectric lens for the gain enhancement of a broadband antenna

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