Reconfigurable antenna designs using micro-pneumatic control of dielectric slugs

The designs of a single-fed circularly-polarized (CP) microstrip antenna with switchable polarization and a tunable dielectric resonator antenna (DRA), using metal-plated dielectric slugs, are described. The scheme of micro-pneumatic control of solid slugs presents an alternative to the existing methods in realizing reconfigurable antennas. The radiation polarization of the CP antenna and the resonant frequency of the DRA are determined by the position of the slugs inside the substrate. Both antennas have been simulated and the results demonstrate the viability of this new antenna reconfiguration method.