Pattern reconfigurable patch array for 2.4 GHz WLAN systems

In this project, a pattern reconfigurable simple two patch array antenna has been designed and implemented to operate at a fixed frequency of 2.4 GHz for beam scanning purpose. Proposed antenna operates at three different modes in which the radiation pattern steers 0°, ±30° with respect to the antenna broadside. In this article, a different approach has been taken to implement the reconfigurable antenna which is very simple and cost effective compared to previous works. For this, a SP3 RF switch is used to steer the radiation pattern by applying phase difference between the two antenna elements. A reconfigurable patch array is designed on a Rogers 5880 RT/DUROID substrate in which antenna element is fed in inset configuration. Measured and simulated results are well matched but with some minor deviations. Designed antenna array has a gain of 9 dBi in broadside and the gain drops to 7.5 dB when the beam is rotated by either ±30°. Pattern reconfigurable antenna can be used in wireless communication systems, where antenna pattern needs to be aligned with strongest signal sources or when the antenna needs to be kept away from noisy environments or interfering signals. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2377–2381, 2014