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. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:104–110, 2014