Study on a Phased-Array Antenna with MEMS Switches

Abstract

In order to study the basic subjects needed to realize phased-array antennas especially for mobile system applications, we have developed core components for the antenna. Wilkinson power divider, a switched-line phase shifter, a single-element patch antenna and a 4-element patch array antenna were designed for 2.5 GHz operation. Low loss MEMS shunt switches were employed for the phase shifter. All the circuits were formed on a glass-epoxy base printed circuit board. The circuit patterns were designed based on the simulation by Sonnet, a 3D planar electromagnetic field solver software. Good performance was achieved in these components, e.g., the transmission coefficient (S₂₁) of -1.8 dB with 91.8 degrees phase shift for a phase shifter, the reflection coefficient (S₁₁) of -27 dB for a single-element antenna and the reflection coefficient (S₁₁) of -34 dB for a patch array antenna. Also, the design accuracy for the core components was confirmed throughout this work.