A Novel Polarization Reconfigurable Antenna Based

on Transmission Line Theory

X. Ding, R. Wang, Y.-Q. Wen, B.-Z. Wang D. E. Anagnostou
Institute of Applied Physics ECE Department
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Chengdu, 610054, China Rapid City, SD 57701 USA
xding@uestc.edu.cn danagn@ieee.org

Abstract—A novel polarization reconfigurable antenna based on capacitors, inductors and PIN diodes. The detail are shown in
the transmission line theory is proposed. The antenna contains two Table I.
side-fed microstrip patches that are placed vertically and
horizontally, respectively and fed using a T-shaped branch line.
The proposed antenna achieves vertical polarization with the
horizontal microstrip patch or horizontal polarization with the
vertical microstrip patch, respectively. The antenna works at 5.8
GHz. The measurements match well with the simulations. This
design demonstrates a useful feature of the proposed antenna for
wireless communication applications.

I. INTRODUCTION
In modern wireless communications, polarization diversity
or reconfigurability can offer improved effectiveness in
receiving communication signals and an exceptional ability of
reducing multi-path fading that can significantly enhance quality
of service in urban or complex environments. For these reasons, Fig. 1. Structure of the proposed polarization reconfigurable
the polarization diversity appears particularly important in Wi- antenna.
Fi, WLAN and other mobile wireless communications [1-3].
Seen from the above references and many other reconfigurable TABLE I
antennas, the essential element of a polarization reconfigurable DIMENSIONS OF POLARIZATION RECONFIGURABLE ANTENNA
antenna can be considered as a radiator with reconfigurable
current distribution. Compo
Values Symbol Length Symbol Length
nents
In this paper, a novel microstrip polarization reconfigurable C1, C2 20 pF l 60 mm w1, w2 12 mm
antenna is designed, fabricated, measured, and analyzed. The L1, L2 120 nH w 50 mm wf 3.8 mm
proposed antenna works at 5.8 GHz with two reconfigurable on-
demand polarization states (vertical and horizontal), is well- C3, C4 10 pF l1, l2 30 mm lf 40 mm
matched, has directional patterns with small cross-polarization The principle of the polarization reconfigurability will be
interference, and can be used in a plethora of polarization explained using transmission line theory. Assuming we bias
diversity applications. positively the antenna at P1, keeping P2 at zero volts, the diodes
K1 and K2 turn ON while K3 and K4 stay OFF. The distance d1
II. POLARIZATION RECONFIGURABLE ANTENNA DESIGN
is set to λg/4 so that the RF current that flows toward the vertical
The structure of the proposed antenna is shown in Fig. 1. It patch sees an open circuit at point A (originating from the short
is fabricated on a substrate with a relative dielectric permittivity circuit at a distance of d1 away from it), because the microstrip
of 3.55 and a thickness of 1.5 mm. Figure 1 shows the top layer patch can be regarded as a transmission line with a width of w1.
of the structure. The entire back side layer is metal ground. Then, most of the RF current will be directed toward the
The structure consists of two microstrip patches, one placed horizontal patch, excite it and make it radiate. Figure 2(a) shows
vertically and the other horizontally. The vertical patch has a the equivalent structure and Fig. 2(b) shows the simulated
length of l1 and a width of w1, and the horizontal one has a length surface current distributions in the above case. This is called
of l2 and a width of w2. The two patches are connected to a T- Mode-1 (vertical polarization mode). In a similar way, the
shaped branch line. The third terminal of that line is connected horizontal polarization (called Mode-2) is enabled when P2 is
to the 50 Ohms microstrip feeding line that has a length of lf and biased positively while P1 is kept at zero volts. Fig. 2(c) shows
a width of wf. The circuit schematics of two independent bias the equivalent structure, and Fig. 2(d) shows the simulated
networks are also shown in Fig.1. The bias networks contain surface current distribution of Mode-2.

978-1-4799-7815-1/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE 2375 AP-S 2015

 Fig.5 (c)(d), the antenna operates at Mode-2. In the xoz plane its
radiation gain is about 6.1 dBi and the half-power beamwidth is
ΘBW = 95º. In the yoz plane, its radiation gain is about 6.2 dBi
and the half-power beamwidth is about ΘBW = 49º.

(a) (b)

(a) (b)

(c) (d)
Fig. 2. Reconfigurable polarization at Mode-1 and Mode-2.
(a),(c) Equivalent structure at Mode-1 and Mode-2, respectively;
(b),(d) Surface electric current distributions at Mode-1 and
Mode-2, respectively.
(c) (d)
The proposed antenna was manufactured and measured.
The size of the antenna is 60mm × 50mm. Figure 3 shows a Fig. 5. Measured and simulated radiation patterns: (a) xoz-
photograph of the antenna during biasing (in Mode-2) inside the plane at Mode-1; (b) yoz-plane at Mode-1; (c) xoz-plane at
anechoic chamber. Figure 4 shows the measured and simulated Mode-2; (d) yoz-plane at Mode-2.
reflection coefficients of the antenna.
III. CONCLUSION
A compact size, simple structure, and low cost polarization
reconfigurable antenna is presented. The proposed antenna can
reconfigure its polarization with a horizontal one or a vertical
one. The proposed antenna covers the WLAN IEEE 802.11a
frequency band and can find applications in Wifi, MIMO,
cognitive radio systems and other stationary terminals of various
wireless applications.
Fig. 3. Photograph of the polarization reconfigurable antenna
in Mode-2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work was supported by the National Natural Science
Foundation of China (Grant No. 61331007, No. 61361166008
and No. 61401065), the Specialized Research Fund for the
Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (Grant No.
20120185130001), the Project ITR1113, and the EHF key
Laboratory of Fundamental Science Project
A03010023801171003.
REFERENCES

[1] F. Yang and Y. R. Samii, “A reconfiguralbe patch antenna using

switchable slots for circular polarization diversity”, IEEE Microwave and
Fig. 4. Measured and simulated |S11| of the reconfigurable Wireless Components Letters, vol. 12, no.3, pp.96-98, Mar. 2002.
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slot antenna without bias network for WLAN applications,” IEEE
In Fig. 5(a)(b), the antenna operates at Mode-1. In the xoz Antenna and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 8, pp. 1057-1060, 2009.
plane, its radiation gain is about 6.1 dBi and the half-power [3] X. Ding and B.-Z. Wang. “A novel wideband antenna with reconfigurable
beamwidth is ΘBW = 52º. In the yoz plane, its radiation gain is broadside and endfire patterns,” IEEE Antenna and Wireless Propagation
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