Frequency and pattern reconfigurable antenna with chip inductors and parasitic elements

A reconfigurable antenna recently has been researched with the development of wireless communication systems in order to improve the overall system performance of diversity characteristics in polarizations, frequencies and radiation patterns. The wireless standard operating in 5.15-5.35 GHz frequency range has newly received attention because of the overpopulated 2.4-2.48 GHz in wireless local area network (WLAN) system in recent years. Various dual WLAN frequency antennas have been studied [1]-[3]. The pattern reconfigurable antennas also have been developed in order to avoid noise source and save energy by better directing signal toward intended direction in wireless communication systems [4]-[6]. There are little studies on the reconfigurable antennas for WLAN systems which can switch frequency band and the direction of the main beam simultaneously. In this paper, a compact and printed reconfigurable antenna which can switch frequency range for WLAN and radiation pattern is proposed. Details for the design and the characteristics are proposed and discussed.