Reconfigurable fractal microstrip antenna with varactor diode
K Madhusudhana, Shriram P Hegde
Abstract
In this article, a rhombus shaped fractal microstrip frequency reconfiguration patch antenna is presented. The proposed antenna depending upon the capacitance value of varactor diode resonates at ten distinct frequencies as follows: 1.375GHz, 1.525GHz, 1.725GHz, 2.45GHz, 3.45GHz, 4GHz, 5.3GHz, 5.45GHz, 5.5GHz and 5.825GHz. Design and optimization of microstrip antenna with analysis for different capacitance values of varactor diode is carried out using IE3D simulation tool. The proposed design is realized using FR4 (Dielectric constant εr = 4.4) substrate with dimension (41 × 41 × 1.6) mm3. A single varactor diode inserted upon the slot is used to switch the operating frequency. The proposed design of antenna, both simulated and fabricated is seen to have close agreement, and is appropriate to be used in L, S and C band applications.