Reconfigurable Multifrequency Antenna with RF-MEMS Switches

Reference number: STC-PS-0720
Inventor(s): D. Anagnostou; C. Christodoulou; I. Papapolymerou; G. Zheng
For more information, contact: Jovan Heusser, M.B.A. (505-272-7908) or Minh D. Tran (505-272-7937)

Patent(s)

7,589,674 (UNM-0720)

Background

The market for cellular telephones and other personal electronic devices continues to expand. The demand for increased functionality creates manufacturing challenges, one of which is met by this new technology. This cost-effective switchable antenna is appropriate for a variety of electronics applications.

Technology

This RF-MEMS reconfigurable multiband antenna is based on a self-similar (fractal) design. Ohmic contact cantilever RF-MEMS switches are integrated with self-similar planar antennas to provide a reconfigurable antenna system that radiates similar patterns over a wide range of frequencies. This multiband antenna is fabricated monolithically on a high-resistivity silicon wafer with the RF-MEMS switches.

Applications/Advantages

This reconfigurable antenna has been fabricated, tested and proven effective and provides the following advantages:

Enhanced performance compared to conventional multiband antennas
• Radiation of similar patterns at all frequencies
• Very low power requirements/consumption
• Reliability
• Low mass production cost

Related Categories

• Mechanical Engineering and Miscellaneous Devices