DESIGN OF A MULTIPOLARIZATION RECONFIGURABLE MICROSTRIP ARRAY ANTENNA USING PIN DIODES

Abstract

A multipolarization reconfigurable microstrip array antenna that can be used selectively for four polarizations [vertical polarization (VP), horizontal polarization (HP), right hand circular polarization (RHCP), left hand circular polarization (LHCP)] at the S-band is proposed. To control the four polarization states, a single element consisting of four PIN diodes and a microstrip patch with a circular slot is need. The fabricated array antenna has a VSWR below 2 from 3.32 to 3.39 GHz for VP, from 3.30 to 3.375 GHz for HP, from 3.285 to 3.405 GHz for LHCP, and from 3.27 to 3.40 GHz for RHCP. The 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth is wider than 19 MHz in the circular polarization states, and the cross-polarization levels are higher than -20 dB in the linear polarization and -17 dB in the circular polarization, respectively.