Patch antenna with reconfigurable sense of

rotation for CubeSat satellite applications

Aguaiza Javier, Cuñis Luis, Ramirez Wilmer
liga1990@hotmail.es , jlcunis@yahoo.com, wiler_25_@hotmail.com
Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo
Ingeniería Electrónica en Telecomunicaciones y Redes
Ecuador, Chimborazo, Riobamba

Abstract A shorted annular ring (SAR) antenna design with

circular polarization and reconfigurable sense of rotation
improving the axial ratio by means of a 90° hybrid coupler is
presented in this paper. The whole structure dimensions are
76mm x 76mm x 3mm, therefore it can be integrated in to one
side of a CubeSat 1U satellite. The proposed design shows a
wide impedance bandwidth of 33.33 % from 1.9GHz to
2.66GHz frequency band, with reflection coefficient inferior to
-10dB and maximal gain of 6.1dBi at a central frequency of
2.35 GHz.
Keywords: Shorted annular ring antenna, CubeSat,
Reconfigurable antenna, Circular polarization.
II. CONFIGURATION OF THE ANTENNA
The antenna design with circular polarization and direction
of rotation switchable between right-hand drive and left-hand
drive (RHCP-LHCP), using a 90° hybrid coupler.
The circular ring antenna short-circuited, which is
composed of two substrates stacked with different thicknesses
and the following electromagnetic characteristics as shown in
figure 1.

I. INTRODUCTION
The definition of an antenna is a device used to transmit
and receive radio waves. Converts the waveform guided by the
transmission line (the waveguide) into electromagnetic waves
that can be transmitted through space free. In reality, an
antenna is a piece of conductive material to which a signal is
applied and this is radiated by free space. [1]
In fact an antenna is a piece of conductive material which
applies a signal that is radiated by the free space. The antennas
must provide the wave radiated with an aspect of direction.
That is to say, should emphasize one aspect of direction and
nullify or undermine the other. This is necessary because we
are only interested in radiate in a certain direction.
The antennas must also provide the wave radiated from a
polarization. The polarization of a wave is the geometric figure
described, over time, by the end of the vector of the electric
field at a fixed point of space in the plane perpendicular to the
direction of propagation.
The need for antennas capable of operating at a wide range
of frequencies makes planar monopole antennas good
candidates due to their wide bandwidth of impedance,
omnidirectional, radiation pattern, compact and simple
structure, low cost and ease of use construction. There are
several flat monopole geometries, such as circular, elliptic,
square, rectangular, hexagonal and pentagonal. [2]
Figure 1. Side view of circular ring antenna short-circuited
III. DESIGN
The proposed geometry allows the antenna to be fixed to
one of the faces of a pico-satellite, occupying a maximum
space of 76mm x 76mm x 5mm, for which the antenna type
patch with circular ring geometry is explored, with its radius
inner shorted to the ground plane which have the following
characteristics:
The first Bakelita substrate is destined for the antenna,
which has a thickness of h = 1.524mm, a relative permittivity
εr = 4.4 and tangent of lost tanδ = 0.02. The second Bakelita
substrate, intended for the 90-degree hybrid coupler, has a
thickness of h = 0.508mm, a relative permittivity εr = 4.4 and
tangent of lost tanδ = 0.02.
The antenna has an impedance bandwidth of 33.4%.
To be the frequency of operation in the order of the Ghz,
the antenna has a small structure. For the design of the printed
antenna is used, the configuration of dielectric and signal. The
antenna has an impedance bandwidth of 33.4%.
 VII. REFERENCES

Figure 2. Front view of the circular ring antenna short-

circuited. [1]. C.A.Balanis, Antenna Theory and Design third edition,
John Wiley & Sons, Nueva York, 1997.
In figure 2 the dimensions of p and the radius a and b have
the following measurements: [2]. Schulze, Henrik. Theory and applications of OFDM and
a = 9mm CDMA: wideband wireless communications. Chichester,
b = 26.3mm England: John Wiley & Sons, 2005
p = 13.4mm

Figura 3. Antenna specifications for cubesad satellite

applications

IV. SIMULATION

V. CONCLUSIONS

VI. ANEXES