Performance of single layer multimode microstrip patch antenna with reconfigurable radiation patterns

Reconfigurable radiation patterns in an antenna offer multi-functionality. Similarly, a planar microstrip patch antenna has features such as the low profile, light weight, and ease of installation, etc. Thus a multimode microstrip patch antenna has the capability to offer reconfigurable radiation patterns. Circular microstrip patch antennas have been studied for generating different modes on a substrate material. In addition, dualmode (TM₁₁ and TM₂₁) microstrip patch phased array antenna has been studied by using two separate substrate layers for the multiple phase centers study. The generation of multimodes on a single layer microstrip patch antenna is very challenging. Therefore, in this paper possibility of the generation of triple modes (TM₁₁, TM₂₁and TM₃₁) on a single layer substrate material is proposed. Combination of coaxial probes has been used to generate higher order modes. It is well known that single coaxial probe is enough for generating the dominant TM₁₁ mode. To isolate the modes on the patch circular slits have been created in the patch. Ansoft HFSS has been used for the full wave analysis of the antennas, which is a finite element method (FEM) program.