Frequency-Reconfigurable Dipole Antenna Using Liquid-Metal Pixels

Sarabia, Kent J.; Yamada, Sasha S.; Moorefield, Matthew R.; Combs, Anthony W.; Ohta, Aaron T.; Shiroma, Wayne A.

doi:10.1155/2018/1248459

Cited by 12 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Although a variety of pixelated antennas have been demonstrated [1][2][3][4], Ref. [5] was the first to achieve pixelation using liquid metal, in which a 1D array of liquid-metal pixels was applied to a variable-length dipole antenna whose frequency could be tuned. To turn on a pixel, liquid metal is electrically actuated from a reservoir buried below the antenna; to turn off a pixel, the liquid metal retreats to the buried reservoir [6].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pixelated dual‐dipole antenna using electrically actuated liquid metal

2019

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confidence: 99%

Pixelated dual‐dipole antenna using electrically actuated liquid metal

2019

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“…This then tunes the length of stub and antenna gain. In [ 43 ], the CEW method is used to switch on and off the pixelated dipole by actuating the liquid metal to the top and bottom of the antenna reservoir. This technique controls the liquid metal tuning automatically, besides reducing the microscale device dimensions.…”

Section: Nontoxic Liquid Metalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides the two commonly used frequency reconfiguration techniques, there are several other methods which can be used for the same purpose. The first example is the pixelated dipole antenna illustrated in Figure 14 [ 43 ]. This antenna is designed based on a planar dipole with two side arms.…”

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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“…The array elements were designed to achieve gains of 5.85 dBi and 5.86 dBi at 2.51 GHz for LHCP and RHCP, respectively. Similarly, frequency reconfigurability was achieved using 1 × 4 pixelated LM cells on both arms of a dipole antenna in [80]. Using continuous electrowetting technique, each pixel could be turned on and off with a switching time of between 30 and 90 milliseconds.…”

Section: Lm Antenna Arraysmentioning

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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Frequency-Reconfigurable Dipole Antenna Using Liquid-Metal Pixels

Abstract: A frequency-tunable half-wavelength dipole antenna is realized using an array of electrically actuated liquid-metal pixels. The liquid-metal pixelated dipole antenna demonstrates frequency reconfigurability by switching between resonances at 2.51 GHz, 2.12 GHz, 1.85 GHz, and 1.68 GHz.

Cited by 12 publications

References 21 publications

Pixelated dual‐dipole antenna using electrically actuated liquid metal

Pixelated dual‐dipole antenna using electrically actuated liquid metal

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

Liquid Metal Antennas: Materials, Fabrication and Applications

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