volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

This paper deals with the design and numerical analysis of a reconfigurable antenna implemented according to the total geometry morphing approach. The reconfigurable antenna is designed so to resemble a reference bowtie antenna, suitable for a stepped frequency Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) applications, with geometry variable in order to work in different operative conditions. In particular, the good agreement between the reference antenna and the reconfigurable one is tested within the work frequency band 0.3-1 GHz for both the free-space and half-space geometry. Finally, a trial of the reconfigurability of the proposed solution is shown for operative conditions with antenna in contact with different dielectric media.

1. Maloney, J., M. Kesler, L. Lust, L. Pringle, T. Fountain, P. Harms, and G. Smith, "Switched fragmented aperture antennas," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium, 2000, 310-313, Salt Lake City, July 2000. Google Scholar

2. Jung, C. W. and K. Kim, "Reconfigurable antenna for concurrent operation over cellular and connectivity bands," Electronic Letters, Vol. 44, No. 5, 334-335, Feb. 2008.
doi:10.1049/el:20083497 Google Scholar

3. Brown, E. R., "RF-MEMS switches for reconfigurable integrated circuits ," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 46, No. 11, 1868-1880, 1998.
doi:10.1109/22.734501 Google Scholar

4. Ali, M. T., M. R. B. Kamarudin, T. A. Rahman, R. Sauleau, and M. N. Md Tan, "Design of reconfigurable multiple elements microstrip rectangular linear array antenna," Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, Vol. 6, 21-35, 2009.
doi:10.2528/PIERC08122101 Google Scholar

5. Hazen, J., R. Clark, P. Mayes, and J. T. Bernhard, "Stacked recon¯gurable antennas for space-based radar applications,", Electromagnetics Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Il 61801. Google Scholar

6. Wu, W., B. Z. Wang, and S. Sun, "Pattern reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 19, 107-113, 2005.
doi:10.1163/1569393052955125 Google Scholar

7. Jofre, L., B. Cetiner, and F. De Flaviis, "Miniature multi-element antenna for wireless communications," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 50, No. 5, 658-669, 2002.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2002.1011232 Google Scholar

8. Cetiner, B., L. Jofre, G. Li, and F. De Flaviis, "A packaged reconfigurable multielement antenna for wireless networking," 2001 Asian-Pacific Microwave Conference, APMC 2001, Vol. 2, 705-708, Taipei, Taiwan, Dec. 2001.

9. Alkanhal, M. A. S. and A. F. Sheta, "A novel dual-band recon¯gurable square-ring microstrip antenna," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 70, 337-349, 2007.
doi:10.2528/PIER07020703 Google Scholar

10. Wei, W.-B., Q.-Z. Liu, Y.-Z. Yin, and H.-J. Zhou, "Reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna with switchable polarization," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 75, 63-68, 2007.
doi:10.2528/PIER07053002 Google Scholar

11. Wu, W. and Y.-H. Bi, "Switched-beam planar fractal antenna," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 20, No. 3, 409-415, 2006.
doi:10.1163/156939306775701786 Google Scholar

12. Pringle, L. N., P. H. Harms, S. P. Blalock, G. N. Kiesel, E. J. Kuster, P. G. Friederich, R. J. Prado, J. M. Morris, and G. S. Smith, "A reconfigurable aperture antenna based on switched links between electrically small metallic patches," Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on, Vol. 52, No. 6, 1434-1445, 2004.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2004.825648 Google Scholar

13 . Daniels, D. J., Ground Penetrating Radar, 2nd Ed., Institution of Electrical Engineers, 2004.

14. Cummings, N. P., Active antenna bandwidth control using reconfigurable antenna elements, Ph.D. Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 2003.

15. http://www.ansoft.com/products/hf/hfss/.

16. Volakis, J. L., L. C. Kempel, and A. Cbatterjee, Finite Element Method for Electromagnetics, IEEE Press, 1998.

17. Soldovieri, F., A. Brancaccio, G. Prisco, G. Leone, and , "Characterization of ultra-wideband bow-tie antennas for ground penetrating radar systems," Microwave Journal, Vol. 49, No. 8, 186-194, 2006. Google Scholar

18. Anagnostou, D. E., G. Zheng, M. T. Chryssomallis, J. C. Lyke, G. E. Ponchak, J. Papapolymerou, and C. G. Christodoulou, "Design, fabrication, and measurements of an RF-MEMS-based self-similar reconfigurable antenna," Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on, Vol. 54, 422-432, 2006.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2005.863399 Google Scholar

19. Lestari, A. A., A. G. Yarovoy, and L. P. Ligthart, "RC-loaded bow-tieantenna for improved pulse radiation," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag.,, Vol. 52, 2555-2563, Oct. 2004. Google Scholar

20. Van, Coevorden, C. M. de J. A. Rubio Bretones, M. Fernandez Pantoja, F. Garca Ruiz, S. G. Garcia, and R. Gomez Martin, "GA design of a thin-wire bow-tie antenna for GPR applications," IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. 44, No. 4, 1004-1010, April 2006. Google Scholar

21. Huff, G. H. and J. T. Bernhard, "Integration of packaged RF MEMS switches with radiation pattern reconfigurable square spiral microstrip antennas," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 54, 464-469, 2006.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2005.863409 Google Scholar

Dr. Nicola Romano

Dr. Giancarlo Prisco

Dr. Francesco Soldovieri