Switchable parasitic patch antenna with beam steering for WiMAX application

Abstract

A switchable parasitic patch antenna that has a capability to operate in four beams of operation is proposed. The presented antenna is developed with a single main radiator at the center of the antenna structure surrounded by four parasitic elements. It has a full ground plane functioned as a reflector that helps to boost the gain up to 8dBi. Antenna reconfiguration is achieved with the implementation of the PIN diode switches. Each of the switches is linked to the parasitic via a shorting pin. The ON/OFF PIN diode state condition means the parasitic is activated/deactivated. It is discovered in CST simulation software that the specified location of the pins is really significant to ensure the parasitic perform either as a reflector or director. The presented antenna could be a solution for application requiring the dynamic beam switching such as a smart WiMAX antenna.