Reconfigurable microwave circuit based on a single triangular microstrip patch

The ultimate aim of the research, presented in this paper, is to create a block of hardware which can be reconfigured to assume any given circuit function (e.g. filter, coupler, antenna, etc). Ultimately the hardware should be capable of performing those functions over any given bandwidth and at any required frequency. In essence what we have described is the microwave equivalent of a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). This paper presents an early step toward the development of this technology. Specifically the paper describes a 3 port device, based around a single resonant element; namely a triangular microstrip patch. The device incorporates 7 microwave switches. These switches enable the device to be reconfigured between two different modes, namely narrowband antenna and 2-pole bandpass filter. Filter mode performance is obtained between ports 1 and 2. Antenna mode performance is obtained on port 3.