A Reconfigurable Patch Antenna Using Liquid Metal Embedded in a Silicone Substrate

作者:Mazlouman Shahrzad Jalali*; Jiang Xing Jie; Mahanfar Alireza; Menon Carlo; Vaughan Rodney G
来源:IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 2011, 59(12): 4406-4412.
DOI:10.1109/TAP.2011.2165501

摘要

A frequency-reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna is implemented using a stretchable silicone TC5005 substrate. The stretchable patch is fabricated by injecting liquid metal alloy Galinstan into a square reservoir fabricated in the silicone elastomer substrate. An aperture-coupled feeding method is presented to enhance the strain by separating the fixed feed element from the stretched radiating element. The implemented prototype is demonstrated to be stretchable by a strain of up to 300% (and the material has the potential for more). The electrical length of the patch antenna varies with the stretching, and we demonstrate frequency tuning from 1.3 to 3 GHz. A maximum radiation efficiency of 80% is measured for the antenna. The fabrication process of the antenna system and experimental results for impedance and radiation pattern are presented.

  • 出版日期2011-12
  • 单位Microsoft