A multi-layered metamaterial inspired dynamically tunable antenna

A multi-layered metamaterial inspired antenna with a pixel grid loading structure is introduced. The antenna consists of two layers separated by a thin dielectric substrate. The first layer contains a folded monopole antenna surrounded by a metal pixel based loading structure, while the second layer is envisioned to consist of a photoconductive pixel grid utilized to tune the antenna. The state of each pixel is controlled by a binary genetic algorithm, which is implemented with a Matlab-HFSS interface. HFSS simulations show that the second layer has a wide tuning ability with the appropriate state formed through optimization. As a proof of concept, the pixel grid on the second layer is initially made of a metal conductor. A state corresponding to a resonant frequency of 3.5GHz is selected and the antenna is constructed using conventional photolithography. The measured reflection coefficients are shown to be in good agreement with HFSS simulations, successfully demonstrating the ability to dramatically tune the antenna with a second pixel grid.