volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

A frequency- and pattern-reconfigurable cone antenna utilizing liquid metal is investigated. It contains a cone antenna, four reflectors, and a circular ground plane. The transparent resin is processed into a mold for the cone and reflective poles to store the liquid-metal. By controlling the poles height in the mold, the proposed antenna can realize four radiation patterns. Meanwhile, the cone height could be adjusted by the reflective poles, thereby achieving frequency tuning. The simulation and measurement results show that, by tuning and switching the liquid-metal radiator and reflectors, a wide frequency tuning bandwidth of 43.2% is achieved, and a pattern reconfigurable with five types of beam steering over 360° coverage is realized. The prototype is fabricated, assembled, and measured, with good agreement between the simulated and measured results. The design of indoor coverage antenna system must have comprehensive measurement indexes such as multi-bands, multi-beams, high gain, and low cost.

1. Choukiker, Y. K. and S. K. Behera, "Wideband frequency reconfigurable Koch snow ake fractal antenna," IET Microwaves Antennas Propag., Vol. 11, 203-208, 2017.
doi:10.1049/iet-map.2016.0238 Google Scholar

2. Shi, S. J. and W. P. Ding, "Radiation pattern reconfigurable microstrip antenna for WiMAX application," Electro. Lett., Vol. 51, 662-664, 2015.
doi:10.1049/el.2015.0568 Google Scholar

3. Nie, Z. H., H. Q. Zhai, L. H. Liu, J. X. Li, D. W. Hu, and J. H. Shi, "A dual-polarized frequency-reconfigurable low-profile antenna with harmonic suppression for 5G application," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 18, 1228-1232, 2019.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2019.2913170 Google Scholar

4. Han, L. P., C. X. Wang, X. W. Chen, and W. M. Zhang, "Compact frequency-reconfigurable slot antenna for wireless applications," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 15, 1795-1798, 2016.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2016.2536778 Google Scholar

5. Zhang, L., S. Gao, Q. Luo, P. R. Young, and Q. Li, "Planar ultrathin small beam-switching antenna," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 64, 5054-5063, 2016.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2016.2620490 Google Scholar

6. Juan, Y., W. Che, W. Yang, and Z. Chen, "Compact pattern-reconfigurable monopole antenna using parasitic strips," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 16, 557-560, 2017.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2016.2588581 Google Scholar

7. Siti, N. M. Z., N. T. Nghia, and C. Fumeaux, "A frequency- and pattern-reconfigurable two-element array antenna," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 15, 617-620, 2018. Google Scholar

8. Trong, N. N., L. Hall, and C. Fumeaux, "A frequency- and pattern-reconfigurable center-shorted microstrip antenna," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 15, 1955-1958, 2016.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2016.2544943 Google Scholar

9. Majid, H. A., M. K. A. Rahim, M. R. Hamid, and Mu. F. Ismail, "Frequency and pattern reconfigurable slot antenna," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 62, 5339-5343, 2014.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2014.2342237 Google Scholar

10. Li, P. K., Z. H. Shao, Q. Wang, and Y. J. Cheng, "Frequency- and pattern-reconfigurable antenna for multistandard wireless applications," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 14, 333-336, 2015.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2014.2359196 Google Scholar

11. Moorefield, M., R. Ordonez, A. Morishita, J. Dang, A. Ohta, and W. Shiroma, "Frequency-tunable patch antenna with liquid-metal-actuated loading slot," Electro. Lett., Vol. 52, 498-500, 2016.
doi:10.1049/el.2015.3896 Google Scholar

12. Liu, Y., Q. Wang, Y. T. Jia, and P. Zhu, "A frequency- and polarization-reconfigurable slot antenna using liquid metal," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 68, 7630-7635, 2020.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2020.2993110 Google Scholar

13. Ha, A., M. H. Chae, and K. Kim, "Beamwidth control of an impulse radiating antenna using a liquid metal reflector," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 4, 571-575, 2019.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2019.2894397 Google Scholar

14. Bai, X., M. Su, and Y. L. Wu, "Wideband pattern-reconfigurable cone antenna employing liquid metal reflectors," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 17, 916-919, 2018.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2018.2823301 Google Scholar

15. Murray, R. and R. Franklin, "Independently tunable annular slot antenna resonant frequencies using fluids," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 13, 1449-1452, 2014.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2014.2341232 Google Scholar

16. "Biconical television antenna," Electrical Engineering, Vol. 66, 1011-1011, 1947.
doi:10.1109/EE.1947.6443781 Google Scholar

Dr. Xia Bai

Dr. Yang Liu

Dr. Qingmin Wang