Mechanically Pattern Reconfigurable Yagi-Uda Monopole Antenna Using Magnetic Gear

Abstract

In this article, a novel mechanically reconfigurable Yagi-Uda monopole antenna using a magnetic gear is proposed. The proposed antenna is composed of a folded monopole element and floating inverse T-shaped director/reflector elements. As the floating inverse T-shaped director/reflector elements rotate, the main beam direction of the proposed antenna scans. A magnetic gear is introduced to rotate the floating inverse T-shaped director/reflector elements in a mechanically contactless manner. Due to the magnetic gear, the proposed antenna is free from a mechanical connection between antenna elements and actuators. A prototype of the proposed antenna is designed at the 2.5 GHz-band and is fabricated, including a mechanical control system for the magnetic gear. Finally, radiation performance and reconfigurability of the proposed antenna are clarified numerically and experimentally.