Journal
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION
Volume 62, Issue 10, Pages 5416-5419Publisher
IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2014.2346188
Keywords
Light-activated; light-sensitive; microstrip antennas; origami; pre-stressed polymers; reconfigurable; self-folding; shape memory polymers
Funding
- NSF [ECCS-0925797, EFRI ODISSEI 1240438]
- DOE [08NT0001925]
- Directorate For Engineering
- Emerging Frontiers & Multidisciplinary Activities [1240438] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This communication presents antennas that incorporate self-folding polymer substrates that transform planar, two-dimensional structures into three-dimensional antennas when exposed to a light source. Prestrained polystyrene sheets supporting a patterned copper foil form the light-activated structures. Black ink that is inkjet printed on the polymer substrate selectively absorbs light and controls the shape of the transformation. This approach represents a simple method to reconfigure the shape of an antenna and a hands-free method to assemble 3D antennas from many of the conventional methods that are used to pattern 2D metal foils. We demonstrate and characterize two embodiments that highlight this concept: a monopole antenna that transforms from a conventional microstrip transmission line and a microstrip patch antenna that converts within seconds into a monopole antenna.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available