CAREER:Novel Reconfigurable Aperture Antennas and Arrays for Compact Multifunctional Antenna Solutions

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。本研究的目的是探索新的可重构孔径天线和阵列，以提供紧凑的多功能天线解决方案。该方法是研究(i)通过控制多模辐射元件的模态幅度和相位，具有多个相位中心的可重构辐射方向图孔径天线；（ii）通过实施射频（RF）微机电系统（MEMS）开关和MEMS可变电容器，微带天线的频率重构；（iii）微带天线的地平面重构，以重新配置阻抗和辐射方向图特性。该研究将为无线通信和雷达系统提供新颖、紧凑和可重构的孔径天线，提供多功能。提出的创新方法有可能允许硬件最小化，简化复杂的天线实现，并提供增强性能的天线解决方案。所开发的理论和分析工具将有助于概念化未来的天线，并提高天线和微波教育的质量。该研究成果有望为无线通信和雷达应用带来高性能和经济高效的变革性天线解决方案，在许多方面满足社会需求。研究生和本科生都将参与研究工作，学习宝贵的研究技能和天线设计的实践经验。这项研究工作预计将产生行业资助的项目。高度鼓励初高中学生的参与。此外，这项研究将有助于在圣地亚哥地区创造兴趣，招募和留住工程专业的学生，包括少数民族和女性。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The objective of this research is to explore novel reconfigurable aperture antennas and arrays, which can provide compact multifunctional antenna solutions. The approach is to examine (i) reconfigurable radiation pattern aperture antennas with multiple phase centers by controlling the modal amplitudes and phases in multimode radiating elements, (ii) frequency reconfiguration of microstrip antennas by implementing radio frequency (RF) Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) switches and MEMS variable capacitors, and (iii) ground plane reconfiguration of microstrip antennas to reconfigure the impedance and radiation pattern properties. The research will lead to novel, compact and reconfigurable aperture antennas for wireless communications and radar systems providing multifunctionality. The proposed innovative approaches have the potential to allow hardware minimizations, simplify complex antenna implementations, and provide enhanced performance antenna solutions. The theory and analysis tools developed will help in conceptualizing future antennas and enhancing the quality of antenna and microwave education. The research outcomes are expected to lead to high performance and cost-effective transformative antenna solutions for wireless communications and radar applications, meeting societal needs in many ways. Both graduate and undergraduate students will be involved in the research work learning valuable research skills and hands-on-experience in antenna design. The research work is expected to generate industry-sponsored projects. The participation of middle and high school students is highly encouraged. Further, this research will help in creating interest, recruiting, and retaining engineering students including minorities and women in the San Diego area.