Reconfigurable Antennas Using Varactors on a Planar Parasitic Layer and Pin Diodes on a Dome Parasitic Layer

This research explores two types of reconfigurable, steerable antennas. These antennas change their beam direction based on electric input signals. The antennas have a layer that overlays the main antenna circuit board. The layer has small copper rectangles (pixels) that may be connected using either varactor diodes (which behave as voltage-controlled capacitors) or PIN diodes (electronic switches). The first antenna can steer in the xz-plane in any direction within about 23° from boresight (straight up from the antenna) and in the yz-plane to about 29° from boresight. The antenna uses varactor diodes on a planar layer. The second antenna can tilt its beam much farther, about 50° from boresight. The second antenna uses PIN diodes on a spherical layer to connect the copper pixels. The antennas were simulated in HFSS, a full-wave EM simulation software, and the latter antenna was constructed and measured.