Reconfigurable Circular-Ring Feed Patch Antenna with Tri-Polarization Diversity

In this paper, a reconfigurable circular-ring feed patch antenna for polarization diversity applications is proposed. The reconfigurability is realized by using only two p-i-n diodes which are inserted into the circular feed ring of the aperture-coupled patch antenna. With the help of the p-i-n diodes, the polarization of the antenna is able to be altered among 45 degrees linearly polarized (LP), left-hand circularly polarized (LHCP), and right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) states. A fully-functional prototype is fabricated and measured. The measurement agrees well with the simulation and three polarization states are obtained. Owing to the merits of tri-polarization diversity, low profile and simple structure, the proposed design is a great candidate for future wireless systems.

Automated summary

This paper presents a reconfigurable circular-ring feed patch antenna for polarization diversity applications, achieved through p-i-n diodes to switch between 45 degrees linear polarization, left-hand circular polarization, and right-hand circular polarization. The prototype matches simulations well and successfully demonstrates the three polarization states, making it a promising candidate for future wireless systems.