3.5 GHZ BANDWIDTH AND PATTERN RECONFIGURABLE ANTENNA

Abstract

This paper presents a reconfigurable antenna (RA) capable of varying its impedance bandwidth between 3.4–3.6 GHz and 3.1–3.9 GHz frequency bands and steering its main beam into three different directions corresponding to θ ∈ {−30°, 0°, 30°}, φ ∈ {0°} for each band. The RA employs a multilayer structure, where two parasitically coupled reconfigurable layers, using PIN diode switches, enable the generation of the modes of operation. A fully functional RA has been fabricated and characterized. The characterizations involved measurements of impedance, radiation patterns, error vector magnitude (EVM), and intermodulation (IM). An average realized gain of 9 dB has been achieved for all modes of operation. EVM measurements indicate less than −25 dB EVM for input powers up to 30 dBm. IM test results revealed that passive factors, such as loose solder joints and electrothermal effects, are the main contributors to passive IM products.