Switchable patch antenna
A switchable patch antenna comprises a planar conductor having an aperture (hole) formed in the middle of the planar conductor. Radiation of a sinusoidal signal is controlled by comparison of separate impedance values for two components that have separate impedance values. Each of the two components have one end coupled together at the terminal positioned at a center of the aperture and their other ends separately coupled to opposing edges of the aperture. A sinusoidal signal source is also coupled to the terminal positioned at the aperture's center. Further, when the impedance values of both components are substantially equivalent, radiation by the antenna of the provided signal and/or mutual coupling of other signals is disabled. Also, when an impedance value of one of the two components is substantially greater than the other impedance value of the other component, the provided signal is radiated and/or mutual coupling is enabled.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an antenna including:
a planar conductor having an aperture formed in a portion of the planar conductor;
a variable component that is coupled between a middle of the aperture and a side of the aperture, wherein the variable component provides a variable impedance value;
a fixed component that is coupled between the middle of the aperture and an opposing side of the aperture, wherein the fixed component provides a fixed impedance value; and
wherein in response to changing the variable impedance value to be non-equal to the fixed impedance value, a signal provided at the middle of the aperture is radiated by the antenna.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , when the signal is radiated by the antenna, further comprising providing a 180 degree phase shift for the radiated signal based on which of the variable impedance value or the fixed impedance value is greater than each other.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of antennas, and wherein a distance between each planar conductor of each antenna is configured between one third and one eleventh of a wavelength of the signal radiated by the plurality of antennas, wherein the distance is provided to reduce mutual coupling between the plurality of antennas.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of antennas, wherein the plurality of antennas are patch antennas that are arranged on a circuit board for a wireless communication device, and wherein a length of each patch antenna is less than half of a length of a wavelength of the signal provided by the signal source.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller that performs actions, comprising:
varying the variable impedance value to match the fixed impedance value; and
varying the variable impedance value to non-match the fixed impedance value.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the variable impedance value is provided by one or more of a mechanical switch, an electronic switch, a varactor, or another variable impedance device.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the signal source is arranged to further comprise one or more of a signal generator, a waveguide, or an electronic circuit, and wherein the signal is provided at a frequency that is one of a radio signal frequency or a microwave signal frequency.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a direct current (DC) ground that is coupled to the planar conductor, wherein the DC ground is arranged to provide a DC bias to improve one or more of impedance matching and radiation patterns for the antenna.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aperture further comprises a two-dimensional shape that is one of rectangular, square, triangular, circular, curved, elliptical, quadrilateral, or polygon.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the planar conductor further comprises:
a first planar region and a second planar region that forms the planar conductor, wherein a non-conductive gap is disposed between opposing edges of the first planar region and the second planar region, and wherein a width of the non-conductive gap is minimized to provide a dipole mode for the antenna to radiate the signal.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is arranged as a holographic metasurface antenna (HMA) that employs a plurality of the antennas as scattering antennas to radiate a beam based on the provided signal.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fixed impedance value is provided by one or more of a metal wire, metallic trace, or extended segment of the planar conductor.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fixed impedance value is provided by one or more of a resistor, capacitor, or inductor.
14. A method for controlling radiation of a signal, comprising:
providing an antenna that includes a planar conductor, wherein an aperture is formed in a portion of the planar conductor;
providing a variable component that is coupled between a middle of the aperture and a side of the aperture, wherein the variable component provides a variable impedance value;
providing a fixed component that is coupled between the middle of the aperture and an opposing side of the aperture, wherein the fixed component provides a fixed impedance value; and
wherein in response to changing the variable impedance value to be non-equal to the fixed impedance value, a signal provided at the middle of the aperture is radiated by the antenna.
15. The method of claim 14 , when the signal is radiated by the antenna, further comprising providing a 180 degree phase shift for the radiated signal based on which of the variable impedance value or the fixed impedance value is greater than each other.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing a plurality of antennas, and wherein a distance between each planar conductor of each antenna is configured between one third and one eleventh of a wavelength of the signal radiated by the plurality of antennas, wherein the distance is provided to reduce mutual coupling between the plurality of antennas.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing a plurality of patch antennas that are arranged on a circuit board for a wireless communication device, and wherein a length of each patch antenna is less than half of a length of a wavelength of the signal provided by the signal source.
18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
employing a controller to perform actions, comprising:
varying the variable impedance value to match the fixed impedance value; and
varying the variable impedance value to non-match the fixed impedance value.
19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing a direct current (DC) ground that is coupled to the planar conductor, wherein the DC ground is arranged to provide a DC bias to improve one or more of impedance matching and radiation patterns for the antenna.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the planar conductor further comprises:
a first planar region and a second planar region that forms the planar conductor, wherein a non-conductive gap is disposed between opposing edges of the first planar region and the second planar region, and wherein a width of the non-conductive gap is minimized to provide a dipole mode for the antenna to radiate the signal.
21. A processor readable non-transitory media that includes instructions, wherein execution of the instructions that are configured to cause actions, by one or more processors, enables performance of actions for controlling radiation of a signal, comprising:
providing an antenna that includes a planar conductor, wherein an aperture is formed in a portion of the planar conductor;
providing a variable component that is coupled between a middle of the aperture and a side of the aperture, wherein the variable component provides a variable impedance value;
providing a fixed component that is coupled between the middle of the aperture and an opposing side of the aperture, wherein the fixed component provides a fixed impedance value; and
wherein in response to changing the variable impedance value to be non-equal to the fixed impedance value, a signal provided at the middle of the aperture is radiated by the antenna.