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.

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Dr. Xia Bai

Dr. Yang Liu

Dr. Qingmin Wang