Reconfigurable quarter-mode SIW antenna employing a fluidically switchable via

A new method to fluidically switch through via posts is proposed for the first time. The reconfigurable via post is used toward designing a switchable QMSIW antenna. The switching method is based on filling/emptying a non-plated via hole with/from a liquid metal alloy. A QMSIW antenna is designed to initially work at ~3.2 GHz. Connecting the fluidically switchable via post at the corner of the QMSIW antenna shifts up the operating frequency. This translates into a switching range of 3.2-4.7 GHz. The Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structures including the micro-channels are bonded to the QMSIW circuit board using a unique fabrication technique.