Electronically reconfigurable dipole antenna using integrated passive non-volatile solid-state metal-insulator-metal switches

In this article, we present for the first time, the design and experimental results of an electronically reconfigurable dipole antenna using passive and non-volatile solid state Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) switches. MIM switch is integrated and fabricated inclusively with the antenna, in an ambient lab environment and notably without the use of any `clean room' facilities. Radiation pattern of the antenna could be configured electronically using DC pulses applied to the MIM switch. A 180° steering of the E and H plane radiation patterns from positive to negative end-fire direction and vice versa is achieved by choosing Set(ON)/Reset(OFF) state of the switch. The antenna shows good return loss characteristics for all switch states around 2.23GHz and has a usable -10dB band width of 54MHz in common for both switch states.