Bio-Inspired Spider-Shaped Antenna with Frequency and Gain Reconfigurability for 5G and Emerging 6G Bands

Abstract A low-loss compact spider-shaped frequency reconfigurable antenna (SSFRA) is fabricated, measured, and investigated for sub-6 GHz, and microwave S-band, C-band, and new 6G spectrum (7.1–8.4 GHz) applications. A single switching PIN diode BAR64-02V is used to make the antenna flexible between S-band to X-band operations. The PIN diode switching not only provides the frequency reconfigurability but also controls/enhances the gain of antenna, when it is in their ON state. When no diode is connected the antenna achieves a gain of 4.64 dBi at 3.58GHz and it enhances to 9.03 dBi when diode is in its ON state. When the PIN diode is in its OFF state, it enhances the upper band bandwidth from 1.43 GHz to 2.86 GHz. The reflection coefficients and the gain of the antenna are measured using microwave analyzer N9916A and anechoic chambers and they are found in excellent agreements with the simulated results. Antenna achieves a 43.25% size miniaturization in comparison to conventional circular patch antenna designed at 3.50 GHz using same FR-4 substrate. The frequency reconfigurability feature of the antenna making it suitable for S-band: n66 (2110–2200 MHz), n256 (2170–2200); Sub-6 GHz/C-band: n48(3550-3700MHz), n77(2.3–4.2 GHz), n78(3.3–3.8 GHz), n79(4.4-5.0 GHz), HiperLAN (5.8 GHz), Wi-Fi 5/6 (5 GHz/6 GHz); new 6G band (USA 7.125 GHz to 8.40 GHz) applications.