volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

This paper presents the first microwave subsystem (MS) capable of changing its function, in this case between resonator and antenna, using liquid metal (LM). This is achieved by filling/emptying fluidic channels with Gallium-based LM and forming LM into different 2D shapes. The manufactured prototype of the proposed MS performs as a slot antenna, when the fluidic channels are empty of LM. On the other hand, it operates in resonator mode, when the fluidic channels are filled with LM. We also connected two MSs along with a microstrip resonator to realize functional change between complex functions i.e., antenna and filter. The proposed connection of MSs can act as a filter when the fluidic channels are filled with LM or as an antenna when LM is withdrawn from the fluidic channels. When operating in the antenna mode the proposed connection of MSs provides a measured peak realized gain of 7.23 dBi and a simulated total efficiency of 84%. When operating in the filter mode the connection of MSs provides a band pass response and exhibits a minimum insertion loss of 1.9 dB, within the passband. The filters 10 dB return loss bandwidth, of 340 MHz, ranges from 2.28 GHz to 2.62 GHz.

1. Chen, Fu-Chang, Hao-Tao Hu, Run-Shuo Li, Qing-Xin Chu, and Michael J. Lancaster, "Design of filtering microstrip antenna array with reduced sidelobe level," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 65, No. 2, 903-908, 2016.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2016.2639469

2. Zheng, Zhi, Xiaochuan Fang, Wei Wang, Guanlong Huang, Hongtao Zhang, and Xianling Liang, "A compact waveguide slot filtering antenna based on mushroom-type surface," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 19, No. 10, 1823-1827, 2020.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2020.3020539

3. Wang, Wei, Zhi Zheng, Xiaochuan Fang, Hongtao Zhang, Mouping Jin, Jiaguo Lu, Qi Luo, and Steven Gao, "A waveguide slot filtering antenna with an embedded metamaterial structure," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 67, No. 5, 2953-2960, 2019.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2019.2898989

4. Mao, Chun-Xu, Steven Gao, Yi Wang, Fan Qin, and Qing-Xin Chu, "Multimode resonator-fed dual-polarized antenna array with enhanced bandwidth and selectivity," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 63, No. 12, 5492-5499, 2015.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2015.2496099

5. Lu, Jiaguo, Hongtao Zhang, Wei Wang, Xianling Liang, Jialong Ge, Mouping Jin, and Wenyu Wu, "Broadband dual-polarized waveguide slot filtenna array with low cross polarization and high efficiency," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 67, No. 1, 151-159, 2018.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2018.2876174

6. Li, Peng Kai, Chang Jiang You, Hong Fang Yu, Xiang Li, Yuan Wang Yang, and Jian Hua Deng, "Codesigned high-efficiency single-layered substrate integrated waveguide filtering antenna with a controllable radiation null," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 17, No. 2, 295-298, 2017.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2017.2787541

7. Zhang, Xiu Yin, Wen Duan, and Yong-Mei Pan, "High-gain filtering patch antenna without extra circuit," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 63, No. 12, 5883-5888, 2015.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2015.2481484

8. Chu, Hui, Chen Jin, Jian-Xin Chen, and Yong-Xin Guo, "A 3-D millimeter-wave filtering antenna with high selectivity and low cross-polarization," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 63, No. 5, 2375-2380, 2015.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2015.2411282

9. Duan, Wen, Xiu Yin Zhang, Yong-Mei Pan, Jin-Xu Xu, and Quan Xue, "Dual-polarized filtering antenna with high selectivity and low cross polarization," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 64, No. 10, 4188-4196, 2016.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2016.2594818

10. Fang, Xiaochuan, Wei Wang, Guan-Long Huang, Qi Luo, and Hongtao Zhang, "A wideband low-profile all-metal cavity slot antenna with filtering performance for space-borne SAR applications," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 18, No. 6, 1278-1282, 2019.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2019.2914604

11. Ahsan, Naveed, Aziz Ouacha, Carl Samuelsson, and Tomas Boman, "Applications of programmable microwave function array (PROMFA)," 2007 18th European Conference on Circuit Theory and Design, 164-167, 2007.

12. Samuelsson, Carl, Aziz Ouacha, Naveed Ahsan, and Tomas Boman, "Programmable microwave function array, PROMFA," 2006 Asia-pacific Microwave Conference, 1787-1790, Yokohama, Japan, 2006.

13. Kelly, J. R. and AL Borja, "Hardware block for use in programmable microwave function arrays," Electronics Letters, Vol. 50, No. 15, 1076-1077, 2014.
doi:10.1049/el.2014.0970

14. Borja, Alejandro L., Yasin Kabiri, Angel Belenguer, and James R. Kelly, "Programmable multifunctional RF/microwave circuit for antenna and filter operation," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 66, No. 8, 3865-3876, 2018.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2018.2835728

15. Li, Hui-Yang, Jin-Xu Xu, Yang Yang, and Xiu Yin Zhang, "Novel switchable filtering circuit with function reconfigurability between SPQT filtering switch and four-way filtering power divider," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 68, No. 3, 867-876, 2019.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2019.2952842

16. Lovato, Ricardo and Xun Gong, "A third-order SIW-integrated filter/antenna using two resonant cavities," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 17, No. 3, 505-508, 2018.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2018.2799518

17. Lai, Junchen, Tao Yang, Pei-Ling Chi, and Ruimin Xu, "A novel 1.7-2.85-GHz filtering crossover with independently tuned channel passbands and reconfigurable filtering power-dividing function," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 69, No. 5, 2458-2469, 2021.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2021.3064589

18. Zhu, Xu, Tao Yang, Pei-Ling Chi, and Ruimin Xu, "Novel tunable isolation network used in ring-type single-to-balanced, power-dividing, and single-ended filter with arbitrary power-division ratios," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 68, No. 2, 666-680, 2019.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2019.2949787

19. Sang, Lei, Xiaoxiao Guo, Ji Xu, Xing Li, Mark Kraman, Yongfeng Mei, and Wen Huang, "Antenna-filter-splitter function reconfigurable microwave passive device based on VO2," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 19, No. 10, 1654-1658, 2020.

20. Lin, Yo-Shen, Pei-Shan Lu, and Yu-Cheng Wu, "A novel configurable microwave passive component based on programmable bridged-T coil array," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 69, No. 6, 3001-3014, 2021.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2021.3074593

21. Yang, W. and C. Wang, "Graphene and the related conductive inks for flexible electronics," J. Mater. Chem. C, Vol. 4, 7193-7207, Jun. 2016.
doi:10.1039/C6TC01625A

22. Sang, M., Jongwoon Shin, Kiho Kim, and Ki Jun Yu, "Electronic and thermal properties of graphene and recent advances in graphene based electronics applications," Nanomaterials, Vol. 9, No. 3, 374, 2019.
doi:10.3390/nano9030374

23. Morishita, Andy M., Carolynn K. Y. Kitamura, Aaron T. Ohta, and Wayne A. Shiroma, "A liquid-metal monopole array with tunable frequency, gain, and beam steering," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 12, 1388-1391, 2013.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2013.2286544

24. Wang, Meng, Ian M. Kilgore, Michael B. Steer, and Jacob J. Adams, "Characterization of intermodulation distortion in reconfigurable liquid metal antennas," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 17, No. 2, 279-282, 2017.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2017.2786078

25. Alqurashi, Khaled Yahya, James R. Kelly, Zhengpeng Wang, Carol Crean, Raj Mittra, Mohsen Khalily, and Yue Gao, "Liquid metal bandwidth-reconfigurable antenna," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 19, No. 1, 218-222, 2019.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2019.2959879

26. Dey, Abhishek, Rasim Guldiken, and Gokhan Mumcu, "Microfluidically reconfigured wideband frequency-tunable liquid-metal monopole antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 64, No. 6, 2572-2576, 2016.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2016.2551358

27. Mazlouman, Shahrzad Jalali, Xing Jie Jiang, Alireza Nima Mahanfar, Carlo Menon, and Rodney G. Vaughan, "A reconfigurable patch antenna using liquid metal embedded in a silicone substrate," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 59, No. 12, 4406-4412, 2011.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2011.2165501

28. Chen, Zhe, Hang Wong, and James Kelly, "A polarization-reconfigurable glass dielectric resonator antenna using liquid metal," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 67, No. 5, 3427-3432, 2019.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2019.2901132

29. Rodrigo, Daniel, Lluis Jofre, and Bedri A. Cetiner, "Circular beam-steering reconfigurable antenna with liquid metal parasitics," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 60, No. 4, 1796-1802, 2012.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2012.2186235

30. Alkaraki, Shaker, James Kelly, Alejandro L Borja, Raj Mittra, and Yi Wang, "Gallium-based liquid metal substrate integrated waveguide switches," IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, Vol. 31, No. 3, 257-260, 2020.
doi:10.1109/LMWC.2020.3040795

31. Alkaraki, Shaker, Alejandro L. Borja, James R. Kelly, Raj Mittra, and Yue Gao, "Reconfigurable liquid metal-based SIW phase shifter," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 70, No. 1, 323-333, 2021.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2021.3124797

32. Zhu, Xiaonan, Fei Yang, Siyuan Zhao, Haoran Wang, Chunping Niu, and Mingzhe Rong, "Liquid-metal capillary switch for electrical power application," Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 117, No. 26, 263701, 2020.
doi:10.1063/5.0028685

33. Le Goff, Denis, Yves Quere, Azar Maalouf, Eric Rius, Philippe Coquet, and Edwin Hang Tong Teo, "Concept of vertical liquid metal actuated cyclo-olefin-polymer based embedded 360° steerable yagi-uda antenna," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 63, No. 5, 1514-1519, 2021.
doi:10.1002/mop.32772

34. Abu Bakar, Habshah, Rosemizi Abd Rahim, Ping Jack Soh, and Prayoot Akkaraekthalin, "Liquid-based reconfigurable antenna technology: Recent developments, challenges and future," Sensors, Vol. 21, No. 3, 827, 2021.
doi:10.3390/s21030827

35. Song, Minyung, Karen E. Daniels, Abolfazl Kiani, Sahar Rashid-Nadimi, and Michael D. Dickey, "Interfacial tension modulation of liquid metal via electrochemical oxidation," Advanced Intelligent Systems, Vol. 3, No. 8, 2100024, 2021.
doi:10.1002/aisy.202100024

36. Floc'h, Jean Marie and I. Ben Trad, "Design of mechanically reconfigurable meander antenna using the Galinstan liquid metal," Loughborough Antennas & Propagation Conference (LAPC 2017), 2017.

37. Song, Lingnan, Wuran Gao, Chi On Chui, and Yahya Rahmat-Samii, "Wideband frequency reconfigurable patch antenna with switchable slots based on liquid metal and 3-D printed microfluidics," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 67, No. 5, 2886-2895, 2019.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2019.2902651

38. Song, Lingnan, Wuran Gao, and Yahya Rahmat-Samii, "3D printing-based liquid metal patch antennas with wide-band frequency and multi-polarization reconfigurations," 2019 URSI International Symposium on Electromagnetic Theory (EMTS), 2019.

39. Hayes, Gerard J., Ju-Hee So, Amit Qusba, Michael D. Dickey, and Gianluca Lazzi, "Flexible liquid metal alloy (EGaIn) microstrip patch antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 60, No. 5, 2151-2156, 2012.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2012.2189698

40. Alqurashi, K. and J. Kelly, "Continuously tunable frequency reconfigurable liquid metal patch antenna," IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, 2017.

41. Alqurashi, Khaled Yahya, Carol Crean, James R. Kelly, Tim W. C. Brown, and Mohsen Khalily, "Liquid metal application for continuously tunable frequency reconfigurable antenna," 2019 13th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP), 1-3, 2019.

42. Zandvakili, Mersedeh, Mohammad Mahdi Honari, Pedram Mousavi, and Dan Sameoto, "Gecko-gaskets for multilayer, complex, and stretchable liquid metal microwave circuits and antennas," Advanced Materials Technologies, Vol. 2, No. 11, 1700144, 2017.
doi:10.1002/admt.201700144

43. Alqurashi, Khaled Yahya, "Liquid metal feasibility and characterisation in reconfigurable antenna applications," Ph.D. dissertation, Institu. Comm. Syst, Fac. Eng. Phy. Sci., Univ. Surrey, Surrey, 2019.

44. Pozar, D. M., Microwave Engineering, 4 Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005.

45. Barbuto, Mirko, Andrea Alu, Filiberto Bilotti, Alessandro Toscano, and Lucio Vegni, "Characteristic impedance of a microstrip line with a dielectric overlay," Compel: The International Journal For Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Vol. 32, No. 6, 1855-1867, 2013.
doi:10.1108/COMPEL-10-2012-0283

46. Wang, Cong, Joo Chuan Yeo, Hui Chu, Chwee Teck Lim, and Yong-Xin Guo, "Design of a reconfigurable patch antenna using the movement of liquid metal," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 17, No. 6, 974-977, 2018.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2018.2827404

47. Hong, Jia-Shen G. and Michael J. Lancaster, Microstrip Filters For RF/Microwave Applications, John Wiley & Sons, 2004.

48. Balanis, Constantine A., Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design, John Wiley & Sons, 2016.

49. Fang, Xiaochuan, Guangjun Wen, Daniele Inserra, Yongjun Huang, and Jian Li, "Compact wideband CPW-fed meandered-slot antenna with slotted Y-shaped central element for Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and 5G applications," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 66, No. 12, 7395-7399, 2018.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2018.2869254

50. Elton, Eric S., Thomas C. Reeve, Luke E. Thornley, Ishan D. Joshipura, Phillip H. Paul, Andrew J. Pascall, and Jason R. Jeffries, "Dramatic effect of oxide on measured liquid metal rheology," Journal of Rheology, Vol. 64, No. 1, 119-128, 2020.
doi:10.1122/1.5117144

51. Bark, Hyunwoo and Pooi See Lee, "Surface modification of liquid metal as an effective approach for deformable electronics and energy devices," Chemical Science, Vol. 12, No. 8, 2760-2777, 2021.
doi:10.1039/D0SC05310D

52. Fang, Xiaochuan, "Programmable microwave devices (PMDs) based on liquid metal," Ph.D. dissertation, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, 2023.

Dr. Xiaochuan Fang

Dr. Shaker Alkaraki

Dr. James Robert Kelly