Microfluidically Frequency-Reconfigurable Microstrip Patch Antenna and Array

A microfluidically frequency-reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna and an array are proposed in this paper. The reconfiguration performance is realized to be frequency-hopping by inserting polypropylene tubes, which act as microfluidic controllers selectively filled with deionized (DI) water between the patch and ground plane. It is a low-cost and environment-friendly choice for frequency-reconfigurable microwave devices and low profile patch antennas. Remarkably, controllability of the frequency-hopping range, number of hopping frequencies and hopping states in the proposed design can be obtained by adjusting the locations and numbers of the tube. With this feature, the hopping range of the operating frequency can be effectively enlarged using as few tubes as possible through choosing appropriate positions for adding the tubes. To verify the proposed concepts, the experimental prototypes of a patch antenna and an array are designed, fabricated and measured, and the simulated and measured results are presented, showcasing good agreement.