Research Title

“DEVELOPMENT OF RECONFIGUARABLE MICROSTRIP

ANTENNA”

Submitted by:

Abdullah

Registration No: AUIC-18SR-MS-EE-2223

Supervisor: Dr. Waqar Ahmad Malik

 Microstrip Antenna
• A microstrip antenna (also known as a printed antenna) usually
means an antenna fabricated using microstrip techniques on a
printed circuit board (PCB).
 Reconfigurable Antenna

• A reconfigurable antenna is an antenna capable of

modifying its frequency and radiation properties

• Reconfigurable antennas differ from smart antennas

because the reconfiguration mechanism lies inside the
antenna, rather than in an external beamforming
network.
 Types of Reconfigurable Antennas
• Frequency reconfiguration
Frequency reconfigurable antennas can adjust their frequency of
operation dynamically
• Radiation pattern reconfiguration
Based on the intentional modification of the spherical distribution of the
radiation pattern
• Polarization reconfiguration
Capable of switching between different polarization modes
• Compound reconfiguration
Capability of simultaneously tuning several antenna parameters, for
instance frequency and radiation pattern
Techniques for reconfiguration
PIN Diodes Based Reconfigurable Antennas
 Antennas reconfiguration based on varactor diode
• Varactor diodes are also known as varicaps and its small junction capacitance
varies by applied DC bias voltage as given in equation. Equivalent circuit diagram
for Varactor diode are shown.

• It has continuous tuning ability and has wide applications in RF and microwave
applications.
 RF-MEMS Based Reconfigurable Antennas
• RF MEMS are new revolution in microelectronics, it is similar to VLSI
circuits as it works in a very low power and functions as transducers
or sensors in a very small size replacing large circuits.
• This device works on the principal of mechanical movements to short
circuit or open circuit in the surface of antenna structure and
redistributing surface current path.
• Good isolation, low loss and can be used in high frequencies
• Slower response then PIN diode and higher bias voltage then PIN
diode.
RF-MEMS Based Reconfigurable Antennas

RF MEMS switches has been embedded in the rectangular spiral antenna design
 Optically Reconfigurable antenna
• Photoconductive switch works on the principal of electron
transfer from valence band to conduction band which makes it
ON from OFF state
• Laser light with appropriate wavelength is used to make the
switch ON or OFF
• The advantage is linear characteristics and no need of external
biasing circuit, this compensates its disadvantage of need of
laser light for activation
• Most important issue for utilizing it is activation mechanism in
antenna structure
 Activation Techniques
• Using non-integrated optical fiber: Make the antenna bulky,
gaps in the radiating antenna and silicon dice is placing in it with
the help of Silver loaded epoxy to hold them, two laser of 980 nm
operating at 200mw are used to on/off them
• Using integrated optical fiber: It is similar to above but are
fixed on antenna structure itself by drill and plastic fixture. Its
advantage that external circuitry is not needed.
• Using integrated laser diode : Integrated laser diode make it
less bulky, eliminates the use of fiber cables for delivery of light,
very good candidate for optically reconfigurable antenna design,
required amount of power generated with the help of current
drivers.
Activation Techniques
Electrical properties of different switching components
 Physically reconfigurable antennas

• Modification of antenna structure can be controlled by using stepper

motors
• Main advantage is that it does not require biasing circuit and power
loss is less
• It has some disadvantages like antenna size increases, the tuning
speed is very less
Smart materials based reconfigurable antenna
• Materials for example liquid crystals or ferrites are used in making
substrate which can change its characteristics
• The substrate usually changes its relative electric permittivity or
magnetic permeability using different voltage (liquid crystals) or static
electric or magnetic fields (ferrites).
• When liquid crystals are biased by DC source, the molecules are
parallel to the fringing fields and thus gives electrostatic field in the
substrate, on the other hand molecules are perpendicular when
biasing is not provided.
Comparison of different tunable components