Reconfigurable antennas that can remotely adjust properties such as frequency or radiation beams in real time are an integral part of future communication systems such as 6G. But many modern designs of reconfigurable antennas may not be justified: they do not operate at high or low temperatures, have power limitations or require regular maintenance.

To overcome these limitations, electrical engineers at Penn State’s College of Engineering combined electromagnets with a matching mechanism, which is the same mechanical engineering concept behind the punch or bow and arrow. Today (February 13, 2023) they published their proof of concept for a mechanism-enabled rebuildable compatible patch antenna. Nature Communication.

“Consistent mechanisms are engineering designs that incorporate elements of materials to create motion when force is applied, rather than traditional solid-state mechanisms that require hinges for motion,” said corresponding author Galestan McCurtich-Sangerdy, a postdoctoral fellow and staff researcher. in the College’s School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). “Compliant objects with mechanisms are designed to bend repeatedly in a given direction and withstand harsh conditions.”

When applied to a reconfigurable antenna, the complaint mechanism arms bend predictably, which changes operating frequencies without the use of hinges or bearings.

“Just as a chameleon moves tiny bumps on its skin, causing it to change colour, a reconfigurable antenna can adjust its mechanical properties, activated by a concerted mechanism, to adjust its frequency from low to high and back again,” he said. author Sawyer Campbell, EECS Research Associate Professor.

Harmonious, mechanism-assisted designs replace existing origami design technologies named after the Japanese art of paper folding, which can be replaced but do not have the same advantages in terms of strength, long-term reliability and strength.

“Origami antenna designs are known for their compact folding and storage capabilities, which can then be deployed in an application,” said Mackertich-Sangerdy. “But once unfolded, these folded origami structures often require a complex stiffening structure to prevent them from deforming and warping. Unless carefully designed, such devices are subject to environmental and field operational limitations.”

The team sketched and designed a circular iris-shaped patch antenna prototype using commercial electromagnetic modeling software. They then 3D printed it and tested it for frequency and radiation pattern accuracy, as well as fatigue failures in the State of Pennsylvania anechoic chamber, an insulated room with an electromagnetic absorbing material that prevents signals from interfering with the antenna test.

While the prototype, designed to target a specific frequency for demonstration, is only slightly larger than a human palm, the researchers say the technology could be scaled up to the integrated circuit level for higher frequencies or increased in size for low-frequency applications.

According to the researchers, research into coherent mechanisms has grown in popularity thanks to the proliferation of 3D printing, which allows for endless design variations. Mackertich-Sangerdy’s background in mechanical engineering gave him the idea to apply this particular class of coherent mechanisms to electromagnetics.

“This paper introduces coherent mechanisms as a new design paradigm for the entire electromagnetic community, and we expect it to continue to evolve,” said co-authors Douglas Werner, John L., and EECS Division Professor Genevieve H. McCain. “This could be the byproduct of a whole new field of design with exciting applications we haven’t even dreamed of yet.”