RF MEMS Reconfigurable Two-Band Antenna

• NCJ Number: 249129
• Journal: IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters Volume: 12 Dated: 2013 Pages: 72-75
• Author(s): A. Zohur; H. Mopidevi; D. Rodrigo; M. Unlu; L. Jofre; B. A. Cetiner
• Date Published: 2013
• Length: 4 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2009-SQ-B9-K005
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: NEMS Integrated Reconfigurable Antenna operating at 150, 400, 700, 800, and 4900 MHz bands for Interoperable Public Safety Communications

Annotation

This article presents the design methodology, analysis, and characterization of a radio frequency microelectromechanical systems (RF MEMS)-based reconfigurable antenna operating in the United States Public Safety bands.

Abstract

The antenna has two modes of operation with central frequencies of 718 and 4960 MHz, providing a high reconfigurable frequency ratio of ~7. It is electrically small, with lateral dimensions being ~ƒÉ/10 ~ ƒÉ/10 at 718 MHz. The reconfigurability between the modes is achieved by a single RF MEMS switch, which can change the length of the current flow path, thereby changing the resonance frequency. The measurement results for impedance and radiation characteristics of the fabricated antenna prototype were the same as the simulations. The measured bandwidths of the antenna are 2.6 percent and 7.6 percent at 718 and 4960 MHz, respectively. (Publisher abstract modified)