A compact hexagonal slot dual band frequency reconfigurable antenna for WLAN applications

• Published in: Microwave and optical technology letters 2017-04, Vol.59 (4), p.958-964
• Main Authors: Ali, Tanweer, Biradar, Rajashekhar C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antennas; Dielectric constant; dual band; Gain; Lithosphere; Local area networks; Microwaves; PIN diode; PIN diodes; reconfigurable; slots; Switches; Wireless networks; WLAN
• ISSN: 0895-2477; 1098-2760
• DOI: 10.1002/mop.30443

ABSTRACT This research work proposes a compact dual band frequency reconfigurable antenna for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). Miniaturization and dual band operation in the designed antenna is accomplished by introducing hexagonal slots and frequency reconfigurability is obtained with the aid of two PIN diode switch supported by its biasing circuit. ON and OFF condition of the PIN diode affects the surface current distribution of the radiating patch thereby resulting in the multiband resonance and reconfiguration characteristics in the proposed design. The overall electrical dimension of the radiated part is 0.216 λ0 × 0.128 λ0 (20 × 16 mm2) at lower resonating band (2.4 GHz) and is fabricated on widely available FR4 substrate having a dielectric constant of 4.4 and thickness of 1.6mm. When both the switches are ON, antenna has dual band of operation (2.4 and 5.2 GHz) with −10 dB return loss bandwidth of about 13.41% (2.31–2.624 GHz) and 3.7% (5.13–5.32 GHz) under simulation, 12.5% (2.32–2.61 GHz) and 4.1% (5.12–5.33 GHz) in measurement. Antenna has single mode of operation when both or either of the switch is OFF. Average gain of 3.02 dBi, stable radiation characteristics with low cross polarization and VSWR