Design study of a miniaturized multi-layered metamaterial-inspired dynamically tunable antenna

A multi-layered metamaterial inspired minaturized antenna with a pixel grid loading structure is introduced in this work. The antenna consists of two layers separated by a thin dielectric substrate. The first layer contains a folded monopole antenna surrounded by a metal pixel based loading structure, while the second layer is envisioned to consist of a photo conductive pixel grid utilized to tune the antenna. The state of each pixel is controlled by a binary genetic algorithm, which is implemented with a Matlab-HFSS interface. As a proof of concept, the pixel grid on the second layer is initially made of a metal conductor. HFSS simulations show that the second layer has a wide tuning ability with the appropriate state formed through optimization. A wide range of other conductivities are also shown to provide pixel combinations that meet the required antenna characteristics. The radiation efficiency of the antenna with the second layer is also examined and optimized, and the theoretical tuning range is investigated. The fabrication of multiple antenna configurations with the pixels made of a metal conductor are explored. Thin PET films are first investigated to be used as simple loading elements that can be placed directly on the antenna. However, the airgap and misalignment between the layers caused by this method is shown to be too large to overcome. A novel multi layer fabrication technique is then investigated which uses a SU-8 photoresist as the dielectric layer. This layer can be spun directly onto the antenna, essentially eliminating any airgap problems. The alignment with this process is also much better than the previews method. Multiple antenna configurations corresponding to a wide frequency range are constructed using this fabrication method. The measured reflection coefficients and radiation patterns are shown to be in good agreement with HFSS simulations, successfully demonstrating the ability to dramatically tune the antenna with a second pixel grid.