Low Profile Hybrid Frequency and Polarization Reconfigurable Bunny Patch Antenna for S-band Applications

Abstract

In this Article, a unique single probe feed Bunny patch antenna with hybrid frequency and polarisation reconfigurability for S –Band application is presented. A bunny patch antenna is a modified circular patch antenna. The bunny-shaped patch antenna is made by joining the conducting strips to the circular patch at 600. Two conducting strips, two notches on the patch periphery, and two RF-PIN diodes are used to reconfigure three polarisation states in this antenna: left-hand circular polarisation (LHCP), right-hand circular polarisation (RHCP), and linear polarisation (LP) with frequency reconfigurability. The dielectric material FR-4 is used, which has a thickness of 6.4mm and a permittivity of 4.4. This antenna features a 400 MHz, -10dB impedance bandwidth from 2.46–2.86 GHz and a 3.38% axial ratio (AR) bandwidth from 2.54–2.64 GHz. This antenna, when designed optimally, can emit a gain of about 5dBic in its circular polarization states. The proposed bunny patch antenna is fabricated and measured. Results have good agreement in all states of operation. The UMT (Universal MSS Terminal) receiver system can benefit from this antenna.