RF MEMS Integrated Frequency Reconfigurable Annular Slot Antenna

Author

Cetiner, Bedri A. ; Crusats, Gemma Roqueta ; Jofre, Lluís ; Biyikli, Necmi

Author_Institution

Electr. & Comput. Eng. Dept., Utah State Univ., Logan, UT, USA

Volume

58

Issue

3

fYear

2010

fDate

3/1/2010 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

626

Lastpage

632

Abstract

A new kind of double- and single-arm cantilever type DC-contact RF MEMS actuators has been monolithically integrated with an antenna architecture to develop a frequency reconfigurable antenna. The design, microfabrication, and characterization of this ??reconfigurable antenna (RA) annular slot?? which was built on a microwave laminate TMM10i ( ??r = 9.8, tan ?? = 0.002), are presented in this paper. By activating/deactivating the RF MEMS actuators, which are strategically located within the antenna geometry and microstrip feed line, the operating frequency band is changed. The RA annular slot has two reconfigurable frequencies of operation with center frequencies f _low = 2.4 GHz and f _high = 5.2 GHz, compatible with IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards. The radiation and impedance characteristics of the antenna along with the RF performance of individual actuators are presented and discussed.

Keywords

antenna feeds; loop antennas; microactuators; microstrip antennas; slot antennas; DC-contact RF MEMS actuators; IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards; antenna architecture; antenna geometry; frequency 2.4 GHz; frequency 5.2 GHz; impedance characteristics; integrated frequency reconfigurable annular slot antenna; microstrip feed line; radiation characteristics; Actuators; Antenna feeds; Frequency; Geometry; Laminates; Microstrip antennas; Microwave antennas; Radiofrequency microelectromechanical systems; Slot antennas; Wireless LAN; Full-wave analyses; RF MEMS actuators; microfabrication; reconfigurable antenna;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-926X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TAP.2009.2039300

Filename

5361382