Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Electrical Engineering, Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, Jitra 06000, Kedah, Malaysia
  • 2 Faculty of Electronic Engineering Technology, Pauh Putra Campus, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pauh 02600, Perlis, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), 1518 Pracharat 1 Rd., Wongsawang, Bangsue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand
Sensors (Basel), 2021 Jan 26;21(3).
PMID: 33530534 DOI: 10.3390/s21030827

Abstract

Advances in reconfigurable liquid-based reconfigurable antennas are enabling new possibilities to fulfil the requirements of more advanced wireless communication systems. In this review, a comparative analysis of various state-of-the-art concepts and techniques for designing reconfigurable antennas using liquid is presented. First, the electrical properties of different liquids at room temperature commonly used in reconfigurable antennas are identified. This is followed by a discussion of various liquid actuation techniques in enabling high frequency reconfigurability. Next, the liquid-based reconfigurable antennas in literature used to achieve the different types of reconfiguration will be critically reviewed. These include frequency-, polarization-, radiation pattern-, and compound reconfigurability. The current concepts of liquid-based reconfigurable antennas can be classified broadly into three basic approaches: altering the physical (and electrical) dimensions of antennas using liquid; applying liquid-based sections as reactive loads; implementation of liquids as dielectric resonators. Each concept and their design approaches will be examined, outlining their benefits, limitations, and possible future improvements.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.