Design and analysis of Ku/Ka multiband frequency reconfigurable antenna using varactors

Abstract

In this paper, initially a multiband microstrip patch antenna covering 20.2GHz (Ka-Band) satellite applications is designed and fabricated, that utilizes the concept of frequency reconfigurability and can dynamically change its frequency and thereby occupies Ku band as well. Multiple frequency bands with different bandwidths are achieved and can be used effectively by incorporating the varactor diodes on/off principle. In particular, the performance of the antenna in terms of bandwidth at higher frequencies especially at Ka Band due to the impact of varactors diodes with different diode configurations is analyzed. The designed antenna resonated at two Ka band frequencies 20.2GHz and 25.5GHz. 66% of bandwidth improvement at 20.2GHz and 63% at 25.5GHz were observed compared to a traditional antenna. The proposed antenna is simulated using Ansoft HFSS software and the simulated results are compared with the measured ones.