An RF Switching Circuit using PIN Diode for a
2.4GHz Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna
N.H. Noordin, L. B. Hwa, N. Hassan, R. Samad
Faculty of Electrical and Electronic,
Universiti Malaysia Pahang
26600 Pekan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
hazlina@ump.edu.my
Abstract— This paper discusses the design of an RF switching
using PIN diode for a 2.4GHz polarization reconfigurable antenna.
The PIN diode in a switching circuit requires an accompanying
PIN diode driver or switch driver that provides a controlled
forward bias current and a reverse bias voltage. The 2.4GHz
polarization reconfigurable antenna is able to switch between
Linear Polarization (LP), Left Hand Circular Polarization
(LHCP) and Right Hand Circular Polarization (RHCP). The RF
switching circuit includes PIN diode, RF choke inductor and DC
block capacitor. The antenna also demonstrates good matching
performance between the result of axial ratio and frequency for all
polarization modes.
Keywords— RF switching mechanism
I. INTRODUCTION
A reconfigurable antenna is an antenna that capable to
modify its antenna parameter properties in some desirable
fashion. The main capability of reconfigurable antenna is used
to maximize the performance of antenna itself within many
changing situation. The parameter of reconfigurable antenna that
usually adjusted is typically frequency of operation, radiation
pattern, polarization behavior, or any combination of these
properties. For instance, a reconfigurable antenna might steer or
place a null in an antenna’s pattern in order to allow the antenna
to switch between Linear Polarization (LP), Left Hand Circular
Polarization (LHCP) and Right Hand Circular Polarization
(RHCP) or shift the antenna’s frequency from maybe 2 GHz to
2.4 GHz. By using this way, a single antenna can used to replace
two or more antennas in order to attain multiple of purpose [1].
Reconfigurable antenna usually designed with an inner
mechanism which included RF switches or mechanical actuators
that enable the RF surface current occur over the antenna
surface. An RF switch used to allow or block a path of current
pass on a reconfigurable antenna. The on and off condition for
RF switch allow the current flow in a desirable way which it can
changes the antenna’s parameter properties. RF switches can
either two types of switches which are mechanical or
semiconductor. When there is no actuation voltage is applied,
the switch is in the open circuit condition while a low-impedance
path for the RF signal when an actuation voltage is applied [2].
In general, reconfigurable antennas allow a single structure
to have variations in the frequency of operation, radiation
pattern, polarization behavior, or any combination of these
properties. Hence, a single structure is able to serve multiple
demand of a wireless device [1-3]. Microstrip antenna has gain
978-1-5386-3527-8/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE
Z.Ibrahim
Faculty of Manufacturing,
Universiti Malaysia Pahang
26600 Pekan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
a huge popularity in today’s wireless communication devices
due to its low profile, low fabrication cost and versatility in term
of its electromagnetic capabilities [4]. Previously, a circular
microstrip antenna with polarization diversity was proposed in
[5]. The proposed antenna is able to switch to Linear
Polarization (LP), Left Hand Circular Polarization (LHCP) and
Right Hand Circular Polarization (RHCP). Different
polarization states are achieved by controlling the connection
between the radiating structure with the parasitic elements. This
paper presents the design and analysis of the RF switching
circuit that support the polarization reconfigurable antenna in
[5]. Options for the switching mechanism include PIN Diode,
varactors and MEMS switch.in this work, PIN diode is adopted.
In forward biased, the both electrons and holes are injected into
the intrinsic region. The injection region does not combine
immediately thereby it causes charge to be stored in the intrinsic
region, thus reducing its resistivity. In reverse biased, the
distance of intrinsic region inside the PIN diode increases in
between P and N layers which also decrease the capacitance
between them thus it makes the level of isolation increases when
the PIN diode is in reverse biased. PIN diode is useful for RF
design applications which function in switching, or attenuating
element in RF components. The levels of reliability of PIN diode
is higher compared to RF relays which often as the other
alternative [4]. PIN diode is the important switching elements to
allow the antenna switch between different of the polarization.
The design is usually having the empty null to place the PIN
diode so that it can switch on or off in different place for
triggering different polarization[6]. The components used for RF
biasing circuit must isolate the RF signal, hence, it include
components such as PIN diode, RF choke inductor, DC block
capacitor and input voltage. Throughout the design phase, the
most important parameter that essential for considered is the
axial ratio [7] and the reflection coefficient, S11 [8].
Section II discussed the design process of the proposed
antenna, design of ideal antenna is discussed in Section III. The
design of antenna with PIN diode is discussed in Section IV,
while the design of antenna with DC biasing line and DC block
capacitor are discussed in Section V. The paper is concluded in
Section IV.
259
 II. POLARISATION RECONFIGURABLE ANTENNA DESIGN
Detailed description and dimension of the polarization
reconfigurable antenna in use is discussed in [5]. The simulation
model of the antenna and its design parameter are shown in Fig.
1 and Table 1, respectively.

Fig. 2. Antenna with DC biasing line

B. Antenna with DC Block Capacitor

In this stage, the DC block capacitor with 220 pF is placed
Fig. 1. Ideal antenna
between of the copper block and the DC biasing line. The ability
TABLE I. ANTENNA DIMENSION
of DC block capacitor is to allow the passage of RF signals while
it blocks the DC frequency and audio interference that could
Parameter Dimension (mm) potentially damage the antenna system [3]. DC block using
Patch radius 34 clock capacitor can filter tout the unwanted frequencies that
Notch width 4
might damage the sensitive electronic components which used
xf, yf 3,3
Gap width 0.5
in testing laboratory instruments, radio transmitter or radio
Parasitic element 1.3 x 2.7 receiver [9]. The antenna with DC block capacitor is shown in
Fig 3.

TABLE II. POLARISATION STATE OF THE ANTENNA [4]

Mode ANT1 ANT2 ANT3 ANT4

PIN 1 OFF ON ON OFF

PIN 2 OFF ON ON OFF

PIN 3 OFF ON OFF ON

PIN 4 OFF ON OFF ON

Polarization
LP LP LHCP RHCP
State

Table 2 shows the polarization state of the antenna. The

antenna radiates circular polarization properties when the
parasitic elements are connected in an opposite direction.
A. Antenna with DC Biasing Line
Fig. 3. Antenna with the proposed RF switching mechanism
In this stage, a λg/4 length DC biasing line was added to the
parasitic element of the antenna as illustrated in Fig. 3. The
length of the DC biasing line is 15.06 mm. Besides serving as a
biasing line, this structure also isolate the RF signal from the DC
signal. This isolation is required to avoid the signal loss from
occurring. Without the isolation, RF noises may occur and affect
the other components on the circuit [2].

260
 III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
In this section, the simulation results for antenna and are
analyzed and discussed.
A. Ideal Switching Mechanism
In ideal condition, the antenna exhibits acceptable
performance as shown in Fig. 4 and 5, respectively.
Fig. 4. Axial Ratio For PIN Diodes 1&2 and 3&4 (ON State)
Fig. 5. S11 Value for All Switching Modes (PIN Diode)
B. Axial ratio with various DC biasing length
Fig. 6 and 7 display the axial ratio and S11 results,
respectively, for the antenna with different DC biasing length.
All of the result performed good result in bot h axial ratio and
frequency (S11 value). The result for 15.06mm length of DC
biasing line for axial ratio is 2.0147dB.
Fig. 6. Axial Ratio of All Length of DC Biasing Line
261
Fig. 7. S11 Value of All Length of DC Biasing Line
C. Finalised Antenna with DC Block Capacitor
Fig. 8. Axial Ratio For PIN Diodes 1&2 and 3&4 (ON State)
Fig. 8 shows the result of axial ratio of both different states
which are the state when only PIN diodes 1 and 2 ON (RHCP)
and the state when only PIN diodes 3 and 4 ON (LHCP). It was
shown that at 2.4 GHz, the circuit achieves good circular
polarization state at each condition. Fig.9 shows the reflection
coefficient (S11) of all different states, which are all ON state,
all OFF state, 1 & 2 ON state and 3 & 4 ON state for all PIN
diodes. The antenna resonates at 2.4 GHz, when the antenna is
radiating in polarization mode.
Fig. 9. Reflection Coefficient Value for All Switching Modes
IV. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the polarization reconfigurable antenna
exhibits good axial ration value with the proposed RF circuit
design. It is important to model simulate the reconfigurable
antenna design with its switching mechanism. This is because
any additional structure to the antenna will have significant
effect to the performance of the antenna. This is especially
critical for polarization reconfigurable antenna as the axial ratio
depend heavily to its current flow.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research is being sponsored by RDU1703222 Universiti
Malaysia Pahang.
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