Design and implementation of a compact ultra-wideband reconfigurable antenna using RF MEMS switch technology

Abstract Modern wireless communication systems demand high bandwidth and effective interference mitigation. This research introduces a compact ultra-wideband (UWB) reconfigurable antenna utilizing a Radio Frequency Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (RF-MEMS) switch to address these challenges. The st...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Preeti Rani, Manoj Kumar Gaur, Poonam Tiwari, Meenu Kaushik, Anshuman Shastri, Vishant Gahlaut
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-06-01
Series:Discover Electronics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44291-025-00077-8
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Summary:Abstract Modern wireless communication systems demand high bandwidth and effective interference mitigation. This research introduces a compact ultra-wideband (UWB) reconfigurable antenna utilizing a Radio Frequency Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (RF-MEMS) switch to address these challenges. The study evaluates three antenna designs: a partially ground-fed antenna, a Co-Planar Waveguide (CPW)-fed antenna with a rectangular ground-plane slot, and a C-shaped slot UWB antenna. Reconfigurability is achieved by incorporating an RF-MEMS switch, connected to the ground-fed antenna through an open stub. The proposed antennas employ a reduced electrical size and an innovative virtual ground feed technique to provide outstanding frequency reconfigurability, along with a single-band notch function controlled by ON and OFF states of the RF-MEMS switch. The Fixed–Fixed RF-MEMS switch provides low insertion loss and high isolation, ensuring excellent RF performance. The proposed antenna design integrates an RF-MEMS switch to enable frequency reconfigurability, dynamically switching between UWB (3.1–11 GHz) and a notched band (5–6 GHz) for interference suppression. The simulated and fabricated prototype demonstrates a peak gain of 9 dBi in UWB mode, with a notch band attenuation of − 5 dBi, ensuring reliable performance across the operating range. The antenna maintains VSWR < 2 across the band except for the notched region, with stable omnidirectional radiation patterns. Compared to existing designs, the proposed structure offers compact size (28 × 23 × 1.6) mm3, superior reconfigurability, and improved gain stability, making it an excellent candidate for next-generation UWB communication systems.
ISSN:2948-1600