Title :
A Millimeter-Wave Inflatable Frequency-Agile Elastomeric Antenna
Author :
Hage-Ali, Sami ; Tiercelin, Nicolas ; Coquet, Philippe ; Sauleau, Ronan ; Preobrazhensky, Vladimir ; Pernod, Philippe
Author_Institution :
Joint Int. Lab. LEMAC, Univ. des Sci. et Technol. de Lille, Villeneuve-d´´Ascq, France
fDate :
7/2/1905 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
This letter reports a millimeter-wave frequency-agile microstrip antenna printed on an ultrasoft elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The microstrip patch antenna is supported by a PDMS membrane suspended over an air cavity. The distance H between the patch and the ground plane, and thus the resonant frequency of the antenna, are tuned using pneumatic actuation, taking advantage of the extreme softness of the PDMS membrane. A continuous frequency shift varying from 55.35 to 51 GHz (≈8%) has been obtained for a tuning range of H between 200 and 575 μm. In all configurations, the antenna remains matched and its radiation characteristics are very satisfactory.
Keywords :
millimetre wave antennas; PDMS membrane; PDMS substrate; frequency 55.35 GHz to 51 GHz; millimeter-wave inflatable frequency-agile elastomeric antenna; ultrasoft elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane; Antenna measurements; Biomembranes; Cavity resonators; Microstrip; Microstrip antennas; Resonant frequency; Inflatable; membrane; polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); reconfigurable antennas; tunable;
Journal_Title :
Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LAWP.2010.2096405
