Frequency-tunable open-ring microstrip antenna with optimally-positioned varactors for radiated-power in situ measurements

This paper presents a novel frequency-tunable open-ring microstrip antenna for radiated-power measurements in a real environment. In order to elevate the probing up to a few tens of meters, the antenna must have light-weight, narrow-bandwidth, and broad side-beam characteristics. An open-ring microstrip antenna is a good candidate for satisfying these requirements. Varactors are attached to tune the operation frequency, but the conventional position, which is in the vicinity of the ring-opening, shows a much lower gain and poor cross-polarization level. This paper proposes a superior position for the varactors, which is the upper-edge of the left and right sides of the ring. The reflection coefficient (S-11) in the simulation and experiment demonstrated that the resonant frequency can be increased by increasing the supply voltage. The proposed tunable antenna can be utilized in the probing apparatus to measure the radiated power. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.