A Novel Shape Memory Alloy Actuator-Based Fluidically Programmable Continuous Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna

A new actuation technique is introduced for overcoming the complexity and radiation performance degradation issues of actuators-based reconfigurable antennas. We employ shape memory alloy (SMAlloy) spring actuators to control the positioning of the fluidic channels, in contrast to the manual filling...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE access 2024, Vol.12, p.164803-164810
Main Authors: Shah, Syed Imran Hussain, Trong, Tuan-Anh Le, Kim, Wonkyo, Nah, Junghyo, Yoon, Ick-Jae
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actuation
Actuators
Admittance
Antennas
Channels
fluidically reconfigurable antennas
frequency reconfigurable antennas
Martensitic transformations
Microfluidics
Patch antennas
Performance degradation
Pitch (inclination)
Reconfiguration
Shape memory alloy actuators
Shape memory alloys
Slot antennas
Springs
Springs (elastic)
Switches
Tuning
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Summary:A new actuation technique is introduced for overcoming the complexity and radiation performance degradation issues of actuators-based reconfigurable antennas. We employ shape memory alloy (SMAlloy) spring actuators to control the positioning of the fluidic channels, in contrast to the manual filling/loading and evacuating/offloading of dielectric fluids employed in conventional fluidically reconfigurable antennas. To demonstrate this new actuation method, a simple low-cost frequency reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna is fabricated, and two SMAlloy spring actuators are incorporated along the microfluidic channels in the axes of the radiating slots. Electrical control of the pitch of the two SMAlloy springs enables mechanical movement/transformation of the microfluidic channels in two directions along the axes of the radiating slots to attain the required frequency-switching characteristics of the antenna. It should be noted that in contrast to the traditional switching techniques where switches are positioned over the radiating aperture, the proposed method does not deteriorate the performance of the antenna because SMAlloy springs are underneath the radiating patch.
ISSN:2169-3536
2169-3536
DOI:10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3493968