Abstract
A novel 3-bit frequency-reconfigurable antenna (FRA) with miniaturized
dimensions is realized with a meander line. The frequency
reconfiguration of the antenna is achieved by introducing N RF p-i-n
diodes into the meander line. The related parts of the meander line with
different lengths are bypassed or included into the antenna by switching
on or off the diodes, resulting in 2N switchable size lengths of the
antenna and equally spaced operating frequencies. A 3-bit meander-line
reconfigurable antenna (N=3) is designed, and the simulated and measured
results agree well. The antenna provides 23=8 independent switchable
states, with the operating frequencies covering a wide switchable
frequency range from 1.04 GHz to 1.51 GHz and the working bandwidths
varying from 80 MHz to 150 MHz. The number of working states is
optimally large, considering the number of switches used. Besides, this
work has an acceptable peak gain of 1.59 dBi regarding the miniaturized
total dimension of 0.17 λ × 0.07 λ (λ is the wavelength of the lowest
working frequency), which is more compact than many published FRAs.