Design and Analysis of a Frequency Reconfigurable Microstrip Patch Antenna Switching Between Four Frequency Bands

Abstract

An effective design of a novel, compact, single feed, dual patch frequency reconfigurable Microstrip Patch Antenna (MPA) for wireless communication systems is proposed and studied in this paper. Fundamental structure of the antenna consists of a rectangular patch and a U-shaped patch. This antenna occupies a compact volume of 86.3 mm × 50 mm × 1.5875 mm (6850.6 mm 3) including ground plane. Switching among four different frequencies is obtained by varying effective length of antenna. Effective length is changed by placing three PIN diodes at different positions in the slot present between two patches of the antenna. Variations in effective length perturb the surface current paths and hence change current density on the conducting patches. By changing states of PIN diodes, the proposed antenna could be switched to 1.87 GHz, 3.55 GHz, 3.67 GHz and 5.6 GHz frequencies. Antenna is simulated in High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) Version 13.0, and a prototype of the simulated antenna with DC biasing circuit is fabricated on a flame retardant (FR-4) Epoxy substrate. The antenna is fed by an inset microstrip line which provides impedance matching. The prototype is tested for its performance analysis. A good agreement is obtained between measured and simulated results. Simulated and measured results show that the antenna provides return loss less than −10 dB assuring good match in absence of any matching network at all frequencies. Effect of changing the position of PIN diodes on resonance frequencies is also studied. The proposed antenna provides benefits such as multifunction operation and symmetry of radiation pattern upon switching between different frequencies.

Design Optimization of Reconfigurable Liquid Crystal Patch Antenna

“…Accordingly, various studies have been performed on an active frequency-selective antenna to cover various application frequencies simultaneously. There is research of selectively using frequency by changing the size of the antenna mechanically [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], electronically frequency tunable antennas using semiconductor devices such as MEMS [ 11 , 12 ], and research of utilizing variations of material properties such as ferroelectric or ferrite [ 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

A Compact Dual Asymmetric L-Slot Frequency Reconfigurable Microstrip Patch Antenna

“…The reconfiguration of two or more antenna characteristics leads to compound reconfigurable antennas [1,2]. Because of the attractive features such as low profile, low cost, and light weight, microstrip patch antennas are mostly preferred by antenna researchers to design reconfigurable antennas [3]. Frequency reconfigurable patch antennas (FRPAs) offer many advantages over traditional broadband antennas such as compact size, similar far-field radiation pattern, and almost constant gain for all the switchable operating frequencies, and above all, frequency selectivity that minimizes the adverse effects of co-site interference and jamming.…”

Modeling and validation of a new reconfigurable patch antenna through equivalent lumped circuit‐based design for minimum tuning effort

“…These problems are tried to be overcome by intuitive approaches such as loading slots or slits, providing stubs and so on in literature. For example, Nazir et al tried to optimize the working frequency of the antenna by changing the position of the PIN diode placed between the patches in a study they performed in 2016 . Also, Singh et al changed the resonance frequency of patch antenna by increasing the electrical length through attaching another patch to the main patch by using a PIN diode.…”

“…For example, Nazir et al tried to optimize the working frequency of the antenna by changing the position of the PIN diode placed between the patches in a study they performed in 2016. 15 Also, Singh et al changed the resonance frequency of patch antenna by increasing the electrical length through attaching another patch to the main patch by using a PIN diode. They varied the attached patch width from 3 to 25 mm and obtained different resonance frequencies.…”