Microfluidically reconfigured frequency tunable dipole antenna

A microfluidically reconfigured, frequency tunable meandered dipole antenna is presented. Frequency tunability is achieved through a selectively metallized plate within the microfluidic channel acting as a parasitic RF shorting switch. The microfluidic channel is fabricated on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and bonded onto the antenna substrate using a 12 μm thin low loss benzo-cyclobutene (BCB) layer. External micropumps are also used to control the fluid flow and move the metalized plate over the antenna slots. In doing so, the metalized plate reconfigures the antenna's current path and shifts its resonance frequency. A fabricated prototype was measured and shown to tune from 0.88 GHz to 1.39 GHz.