SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECONFIGURABLE FILTENNA

• US 20150054709A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UNM Rainforest Innovations (f/k/a STC.UNM) (The University of New Mexico)
• Original Assignee: UNM Rainforest Innovations (f/k/a STC.UNM) (The University of New Mexico)
• Inventors: Christodoulou, Christos G., Tawk, Youssef A., Costantine, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,653,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/861
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/085 Slot-line radiating ends
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/24 Polarising devices; Polarisation filters H01Q15/12, H01Q15/22 take precedence

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for a frequency reconfigurable filtenna system. Implementations incorporate a reconfigurable band-pass filter within the feeding line of an antenna structure. The combination of the filter and the antenna may be referred to as a “filtenna”. Implementations integrate both the band-pass filter and the antenna within the same substrate, permitting easier, more efficient and more compact integration in the transceiver hardware. Moreover, by using this configuration, the biasing of the switching elements are not present in the radiating plane of the antenna. This reduces the negative effect of the biasing lines on the antenna radiation performance, as we!! as provides a tunable filtered antenna radiation characteristic.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable filtering antenna (filtenna) structure, comprising:

a reconfigurable band-limited filter, the reconfigurable band-limted filter comprising-

a first port to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal and a biasing DC signal, and

a varactor, incorporated within a slot in the filter structure; and

an antenna element, operatively integrated with the reconfigurable band-limited filter, wherein a band-limited operation of the antenna element is reconfigurable based on the biasing signal applied to the varactor.

2. The filtenna structure of claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable band-limted filter is integrally formed on a same substrate as the antenna structure.

3. The filtenna structure of claim 2, wherein the slot comprises a hexagonal slot.

4. The filtenna structure of claim 3, wherein the varactor is grounded to a ground connection of the substrate.

5. The filtenna structure of claim 4, wherein the reconfigurable band-limted filter is incorporated on a microstrip feeding line of the antenna structure.

6. The filtenna structure of claim 5, wherein the hexagonal slot is formed in the microstrip feeding line as part of the reconfigurable band-pass filter.

7. The filtenna structure of claim 6, wherein the RF signal and the biasing signal are received at the first port via a bias tee circuit, the first port being connected to the microstrip feeding line.

8. The filtenna structure of claim 1, wherein the antenna element comprises a dual sided Vivaldi antenna.

9. The filtenna structure of claim 8, wherein the dual sided Vivaldi antenna element comprises a top layer, and the reconfigurable band-pass filter is formed on the top layer.

10. The filtenna structure of claim 8, wherein the dual sided Vivaldi antenna element comprises of a ground plane opposite to the top layer.

11. The filtenna structure of claim 1, wherein the band-limted filter is tunable.

12. The filtenna structure of claim 11, wherein the band-limited filter comprises a band-pass filter.

13. The filtenna structure of claim 11, wherein the band-limited filter comprises a band-stop filter.

14. A wireless device, comprising:

A reconfigurable filtering antenna (filtenna) structure, comprising-

a reconfigurable band-limted filter, the reconfigurable band-limited filter comprising-

a first port to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal and a biasing signal, and

a varactor incorporated within a slot in the filter strucutre;

an antenna element, operatively integrated with the reconfigurable band-limited filter, wherein a pass band operation of the antenna element is reconfigurable based on the biasing signal applied to the varactor; and

a transceiver element, operatively connected to the first port, the transceiver element being configured to transmit and receive the RF signal via the filtenna structure.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the reconfigurable band-limited filter is integrally formed on a same substrate as the antenna structure.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the slot comprises a hexagonal slot.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the varactor is grounded to a ground connection of the substrate.

18. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein the reconfigurable band-limited filter is incorporated on a microstrip feeding line of the antenna structure.

19. The wireless device of claim 18, wherein the hexagonal slot is formed in the microstrip feeding line as part of the reconfigurable band-pass filter.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the band-limited filter comprises a band-pass filter.