A Reconfgurable Patch Antenna Design based on Characteristic Mode Theory

The characteristic mode theory and analysis have become a novel approach for compact and multi-mode antenna design. In this work, the design of a radiation pattern reconfgurable patch antenna is considered due to its low-profle feature. Unlike the previously studied designs, the patch antenna is fully investigated and has a clear radiation mechanism. To overcome this diffculty, reconfgurability is explored by examining the characteristic modes. After selecting two characteristic modes with vast differences in radiation characteristics, the feeding structure and matching considerations are investigated through parameter sweeping. Finally, the performance of the proposed antenna design is fully studied and compared using full-wave simulations.