Design and Analysis of Pattern Reconfigurable Antenna Based on RF MEMS Switches

Abstract

The research on reconfigurable antennas has some disadvantages such as low working frequency and large size. This paper presents a Ka-band patch antenna with pattern reconfigurability using RF MEMS switches. The antenna contains one main patch, two sub-patches, two parasitic patches, and two RF MEMS switches. By controlling the states of the RF MEMS switches, the antenna can achieve three different radiation patterns (−8°, 0°, and +8°) at 35 GHz. The pattern analysis was based on the electric field vector addition method. The analytical, simulated, and measured results agree well with each other. Due to its compact and thin structure of 3.7 mm × 5.2 mm × 0.4 mm, this antenna can be applied in fields such as satellites, smartphones, etc.

Keywords

• RF MEMS switch
• pattern reconfigurable antenna
• the electric field vector addition method