A mechanically pattern reconfigurable array

A design of pattern reconfigurable arrays realized with mechanical mechanism is presented. The radiating element of the array is a printed dipole backed with a metallic box, and it has a broad impedance bandwidth as well as a high front-to-back ratio. Four of the elements are connected together by using a mounting fixture with rotatable joints. When the joints are rotated manually, the array configuration is changed, and each array configuration can generate a specific radiation pattern. For the proposed array, a prototype designed at the frequency band from 4.8 to 5.9 GHz is constructed. Measured results for the prototype operating in three typical radiation modes are exhibited, including high-directivity radiation mode, two-beam radiation mode, and omnidirectional radiation mode. Simulated results also validate the experiments.