A compound reconfigurable series-fed microstrip antenna for satellite communication applications

PurposeThis paper aims to present an innovative reconfigurable series-fed microstrip antenna using radiofrequency positive intrinsic negative (RF PIN) diodes for cognitive S-band and C-band satellite communications. The antenna can dynamically reconfigure its frequency, polarization and radiation pattern to meet diverse application needs.Design/methodology/approachThe design involves a reconfigurable four-element microstrip antenna using FR4 substrate and copper patches. RF PIN diodes enable dynamic frequency, polarization and radiation pattern reconfiguration. Simulations and optimizations are performed using CST and HFSS, using techniques like the Nelder-Mead algorithm, particle swarm optimization, covariance matrix adaptation and trust region framework. An antenna prototype is also fabricated to validate the simulations.FindingsThe proposed antenna demonstrates significant reconfigurability: it switches between S-band (2.45 GHz, 2.52 GHz) and C-band (5.55 GHz, 5.59 GHz) with bandwidths of 120 MHz and 550 MHz, respectively. It transitions between circular and linear polarization in the S-band and modifies the radiation pattern by 45 degrees, providing an alternative radiation direction in the C-band. The antenna achieves a maximum gain of 5.95 dBi at 2.52 GHz and 93% efficiency at 5.55 GHz. Simulated results closely match those from the fabricated prototype, confirming the design's validity.Originality/valueThe innovative use of RF PIN diodes enables comprehensive reconfigurability in frequency, polarization and radiation patterns within a single microstrip antenna, meeting the demands of S-band and C-band satellite communications. This study demonstrates superior performance, significant gains and efficiencies across various reconfiguration modes, validated by rigorous simulation and practical fabrication. The simple structural design further distinguishes this study from others in the field.