A Pattern-Reconfigurable Planar Fractal Antenna and its Characteristic-Mode Analysis

A compact pattern-reconfigurable planar fractal antenna is presented. Simulated and measured results showed that four switchable directional patterns, covering ranges from 300deg to 360deg and from 0deg to 60deg in the x-z and y-z planes, respectively, could be obtained around 8.4 GHz. The return losses were better than 10 dB. Finally, the pattern reconfigurability of the planar fractal antenna is described by means of a characteristic-mode analysis.