Pattern Reconfigurable Microstrip Patch Antenna Based on Shape Memory Alloys for Automobile Applications
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https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-020-08424-z Ó 2020 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
Pattern Reconfigurable Microstrip Patch Antenna Based on Shape Memory Alloys for Automobile Applications L. SUMANA
1,2
and S. ESTHER FLORENCE1
1.—Department of Electronics and Communications, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, Chennai 603110, India. 2.—e-mail: [email protected]
A simple realization method for pattern reconfigurable antenna structures based on a shape memory alloy (SMA) is presented here. The proposed antenna is designed for automobile applications for safety, comfort, and commercial usage purposes. It is capable of communicating with neighbouring automobiles and also with roadside units. The patch of the antenna is made up of two-way SMA which comprises of two rectangular patches (patch 1 and patch 2) with antenna dimensions of 74 9 58 mm2. Upon exciting patch 1 through resistive heating, the antenna generates a tilted beam at an angle of 330°, and similarly for patch 2 at an angle of 30°, thus realizing pattern reconfigurability in the antenna. The operating frequency of the proposed pattern reconfigurable antenna is 2.68 GHz and it radiates with a reflection coefficient (S11) below 10 dB. The desired pattern is achieved by training the SMA for the two-way effect. The prototype of the proposed antenna has been designed, fabricated, tested, to validate the experimental results and finally performance have been studied. Key words: Automobile application, microstrip patch antenna, pattern reconfigurability, reconfigurable antenna, shape memory alloy
INTRODUCTION Because of the strong demand for wireless communication technologies, there is a need for compact pattern reconfigurable antennas. Such antennas provide greater diversity, higher channel capacity, mitigate strong multipath fading effects, and radiation coverage for the intended users. Traditionally, pattern reconfigurability was achieved by a beam steering approach which improves the channel capacity but with the limitations of high cost and complexity in the design process.1,2 In the literature, several approaches have been used to obtain pattern reconfigurability. The change in the
(Received May 7, 2020; accepted August 14, 2020)
antenna properties can be realized using electrical and mechanical methods. Electrically, pattern reconfigurability can be obtained by using pin diodes,3–7 radio frequency micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switches,8,9 and varactors.10,11 Metasurfaces have been widely employed in polarization converters, flat lenses, and orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam generators. Metasurfacegenerated OAM beams display good performance in terms of purity, reflectivity, transmissivity, and the shape of the phase front.12 Pattern reconfigurable antennas have been designed for the vehicular environment.13,14 The combination of switches in the antenna structures have the merits of better isolation and quick response, but the nonlinearity effects cause the design process to be highly complex while fa
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