Small-Size Eight-Band Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna Loading a MEMS Switch for Mobile Handset Applications

Abstract EN

A planar small-size eight-band frequency reconfigurable antenna for LTE/WWAN mobile handset applications is proposed.

The proposed antenna consists of a feeding strip and a coupled strip, with a total dimension of 10 × 29.5 mm2.

Reconfigurability is realized by incorporating a one-pole four-throw RF switch, which is embedded in the coupled strip and changes the resonant modes for the lower band.

By combining four different working modes, the proposed antenna successfully realize the eight-band operation, covering the operating bands of 700~787 MHz, 824~960 MHz, and 1710~2690 MHz.

In addition, the simple DC bias circuit of the RF switch has little effect on the antenna performances, with no significant reduction in antenna efficiency and variations in the radiation patterns.

The measured antenna efficiencies are 40%~50% and over 60% for the lower band and the upper band, respectively.

Prototypes of the proposed frequency reconfigurable antenna incorporating the one-pole four-throw switch are fabricated and measured.

The measured results including return losses and radiation characteristics are presented.