Shape Memory Alloy (SMA)-Based Pattern-Reconfigurable Antenna

Abstract

This letter presents a realization method of reconfigurable antenna systems based on smart materials. The reconfigurability is obtained by utilizing shape memory alloy directors. This realization method offers a longer lifetime and lower energy consumption than conventional approaches such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) or p-i-n diodes. As a proof-of-concept, a compact reconfigurable antenna for the 2.6-GHz Long Term Evolution (LTE) band was designed. The designed antenna is a quasi-Yagi antenna with its directors made from shape memory alloy. This antenna is made to be installed in a standard car-roof antenna housing. A prototype of the antenna presented here has been fabricated and measured.Index Terms-Automotive antenna, reconfigurable antenna, shape memory alloy (SMA), smart materials, Yagi.

A pattern‐ and frequency‐reconfigurable antenna using liquid metal

“…[1][2][3] Recently, the multiple reconfigurable antennas combining two or more types of reconfigurability have been widely used because they provide more benefits such as avoiding using multiple antennas in one system, simplifying the configurations of antennas, and saving the costs of systems. [4][5][6] There are varieties of common methods, like electrical control, 7,8 mechanical control, 9,10 or optical control, 11,12 to reconfigure the antenna radiation characteristics. Compared to these conventional reconfiguration methods, liquid metalbased reconfiguration has many advantages, such as lower power loss, more flexible tuning range, and better linearity.…”

“…There are varieties of common methods, like electrical control, 7,8 mechanical control, 9,10 or optical control, 11,12 to reconfigure the antenna radiation characteristics. Compared to these conventional reconfiguration methods, liquid metal‐based reconfiguration has many advantages, such as lower power loss, more flexible tuning range, and better linearity 13,14 .…”

Pattern Reconfigurable Microstrip Patch Antenna Based on Shape Memory Alloys for Automobile Applications

“…20 The inventors of the quasi-Yagi antenna used a shape memory alloy (SMA) to achieve pattern reconfigurability. 21 The antenna pattern can be altered by using a SMA spring actuator to describe a reconfigurable axial mode helix antenna. 22 Unlike electrical switches, the mechanical reconfiguration approach does not have nonlinearity effects in the RF signal path and hence offers a large range of effective reconfiguration schemes.…”

Wideband Pattern- and Polarization-Reconfigurable Antenna Based on Bistable Composite Cylindrical Shells

“…Conventional reconfigurable antennas usually use, for example, electrical control [7], [8], optical control [9], [10] and mechanical control [11], [12] methods to implement reconfigurability. Although antenna integration is…”