RF MEMS switches enabled H-shaped beam reconfigurable antenna

− This work presents a novel RF MEMS-based pattern reconfigurable antenna capable of steering beam in three different directions. The proposed H-shaped microstrip antenna is based on the basic structure of a dipole antenna and forms an ‘H’ shape by combining two dipoles in reverse fashion. The proposed antenna provides pattern reconfigurability at a single resonant frequency of 1.8 GHz, that lies in L-band. The optimized simple structure of the proposed antenna allows easy incorporation of single pole single throw (SPSTRSMW101) RF MEMS switches. The antenna is simulated using electromagnetic (EM) simulators (HFSS and IE3D). The proposed antenna is fabricated on RT Duroid substrate with 2.2 dielectric constant, and 1.75 mm thickness. The ON and OFF state of RF MEMS switches enables three different scenarios of operation with peak gains of 6.25 dBi, 6.28 dBi, and 4.01 dBi respectively. For validation of pattern reconfigurability the antenna is tested using time domain antenna measurement system and found to have a good agreement with the simulated results.