volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

PIN diodes are used to electronically switch a rectangular microstrip antenna between the optimal radiation state and the low radar cross section (RCS) state in this paper. A useful loading circuit is proposed. The circuit is connected between the patch and the ground plane of the antenna at each loading position. The loading positions of the circuit are determined by studying magnitude distributions of the induced electric field and analyzing statistically how many times that the maximum electric field occurs in each area for each discussed incident angle. PIN diodes are equivalent to capacitances and resistances when diodes are reverse-biased and forward-biased, respectively. When the antenna is not in service and excited by an incident plane wave, obvious RCS reduction is realized. In addition, the radiation performances are well maintained when the antenna is in service for transmitting or receiving signals.

1. Vedaprabhu, B. and K. J. Vinoy, "An integrated wideband multifunctional antenna using a microstrip patch with two U-slots," Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 22, 221-235, 2010.
doi:10.2528/PIERB10050402

2. Zhang, Y., B.-Z.Wang, W. Shao, W. Yu, and R. Mittra, "Artificial ground planes for performance enhancement of microstrip antennas," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 25, No. 4, 597-606, 2011.
doi:10.1163/156939311794500269

3. Jackson, D. R., "The RCS of a rectangular microstrip patch in a substrate-superstrate geometry ," IEEE Trans. on Antenna and Propagation, Vol. 38, No. 1, 2-8, 1990.
doi:10.1109/8.43583

4. Wilsen, C. B. and D. B. Davidson, "The radar cross section reduction of microstrip patches," IEEE Africon 4th, Vol. 2, No. 1, 730-733, 1996.

5. Pozar, D. M., "RCS reduction for a microstrip antenna using a normally biased ferrite substrate," Microwave and Guided Wave Letters, Vol. 2, No. 5, 196-198, 1992.
doi:10.1109/75.134353

6. Yang, H.-Y., J. A. Castaneda, and N. G. Alexopoulos, "Multifunctional antennas with low RCS," Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium, Vol. 4, 2240-2243, 1992.

7. Volakis, J. L., A. Alexanian, and J. M. Lin, "Broadband RCS reduction of rectangular patch by using distributed loading," Electronics Letters, Vol. 28, 2322-2323, 1992.

8. Yang, H. and S. Gong, "RCS reduction technique out of operation of microstrip antennas," Journal of Microwaves, Vol. 20, No. 1, 35-39, 2004.

9. Ma, H., C. Xu, and H. Zheng, "Effect of impedance load on radiation and scattering of microstrip antenna," Modern Electronic Technology, Vol. 6, 6-7, 2004.

10. Zhao, S.-C., B.-Z. Wang, and Q.-Q. He, "Broadband radar cross section reduction of a rectangular patch antenna," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 79, 263-275, 2008.
doi:10.2528/PIER07101002

11. Zhao, S.-C., B.-Z. Wang, and W. Shao, "Reconfigurable Yagi-Uda substrate for radar cross section reduction of patch antenna," Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 11, 173-187, 2009.
doi:10.2528/PIERB08120101

12. Xu, H.-Y., H. Zhang, X. Yin, and K. Lu, "Ultra-wideband koch fractal antenna with low backscattering cross section," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 24, No. 17-18, 2615-2623, 2010.
doi:10.1163/156939310793675790

13. Zhu, X., W. Shao, J.-L. Li, and Y. Dong, "Design and optimization of low RCS patch antennas based on a genetic algorithm," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 122, 327-339, 2012.
doi:10.2528/PIER11100703

14. Jiang, W., T. Hong, Y. Liu, S.-X. Gong, Y. Guan, and S. Cui, "A novel technique for radar cross section reduction of printed antennas," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 24, No. 1, 51-60, 2010.
doi:10.1163/156939310790322145

15. Hong, T., L.-T. Jiang, Y.-X. Xu, S.-X. Gong, and W. Jiang, "Radiation and scattering analysis of a novel circularly polarized slot antenna," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 24, No. 13, 1709-1720, 2010.

16. Ren, L.-S., Y.-C. Jiao, J.-J. Zhao, and F. Li, "RCS reduction for a FSS-backed reflectarray using a ring element," Progress In Electromagnetics Research Letters, Vol. 26, 115-123, 2011.
doi:10.2528/PIERL11071201

17. Aberle, J. T., M. Chu, and C. R. Birtcher, "Scattering and radiation properties of varactor-tuned microstrip antennas," AP-S, Vol. 4, 2229-2232, 1992.

18. Janaswamy, R. and S.-W. Lee, "Scattering from dipoles loaded with diodes," IEEE Trans. on Antenna and Propagation, Vol. 36, No. 11, 1649-1651, 1988.
doi:10.1109/8.9722

19. Bai, Y.-Y., S. Q. Xiao, M.-C. Tang, et al. "Wide-angle scanning phased array with pattern reconfigurable elements," IEEE Trans. on Antenna and Propagation, Vol. 59, No. 11, 4071-4076, 2011.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2011.2164176

20. Lin, S.-Y., Y.-C. Lin, and J.-Y. Lee, "T-strip FED patch antenna with reconfigurable polarization," Progress In Electromagnetics Research Letters, Vol. 15, 163-173, 2010.
doi:10.2528/PIERL10051801

21. Jamlos, M. F., O. A. Aziz, T. B. A. Rahman, M. R. B. Kamarudin, P. Saad, M. T. Ali, and M. N. Md Tan, "A reconfigurable radial line slot array (RLSA) antenna for beam shape and broadside application," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 24, No. 8-9, 1171-1182, 2010.
doi:10.1163/156939310791586007

22. Raedi, Y., S. Nikmehr, and A. Poorziad, "A novel bandwidth enhancement technique for X-band RF MEMS actuated reconfigurable reflectarray," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 111, 179-196, 2011.
doi:10.2528/PIER10101201

23. Vendelin, G. D., A. M. Pavio, and U. L. Rohde, Microwave Circuit Design Using Linear and Nonlinear Techniques, Ch. 12, Ch. 3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, 2005.

24. Zhou, B. and G.-Z. Lu, "RF PIN diode switch in reconfigurable antenna," Journal of Communication University of China (Science and Technology), Vol. 16, No. 4, 35-38, 2009.

Dr. Yuping Shang

Dr. Shao-Qiu Xiao

Dr. Jia-Lin Li

Professor Bing-Zhong Wang