Frequency reconfigurable self-adapting conformal array for changing surfaces

Conformal antennas placed on complex surfaces are receiving more attention as a method to increase the coverage of modern wireless communication systems. Furthermore, frequency reconfigurable antennas are being used in the development of multi-band multi-radio wireless platforms to simplify designs. In this study, theoretical development and a new 1 x 4 frequency reconfigurable self-adapting conformal antenna array that can be attached to changing conformal surfaces is presented. This conformal array consists of four reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna elements, a reconfigurable sensor circuit used to measure the curvature of the conformal surface and voltage controlled phase shifters. These phase shifters are controlled by the reconfigurable sensing circuit to implement phase-compensation to autonomously recover the pattern in both bands of the reconfigurable 1 x 4 array as the wedge- and cylindrical-shaped surface on which the array is attached upon change in shape. Throughout this study, analytical computations, simulations and measurements are compared and shown to agree.