Toward Liquid Reconfigurable Antenna Arrays for Wireless Communications Articles uri icon

publication date

  • December 2022

start page

  • 145

end page

  • 151

issue

  • 12

volume

  • 60

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0163-6804

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1558-1896

abstract

  • Liquid-based antennas promise to overcome crucial limitations of traditional solid-based ones. Here, we describe different liquid antenna technologies that can be used to build arrays with the unprecedented flexibility and adaptivity needed to enable an evolution in wireless communications. We focus on two approaches that use either metallic or non-metallic liquids as radiating elements. In both cases, the resulting devices can be reconfigured dynamically, thus modifying the radiation parameters of an antenna in real time in an inexpensive way. To that end, we describe some of the challenges which arise when integrating such antennas as part of a whole communication system. We discuss the solutions adopted in some initial prototypes and summarize some of the problems that need to be solved to pave the way for integrating fully reconfigurable liquid antenna arrays in wireless communication systems.

subjects

  • Telecommunications

keywords

  • wireless communication; liquids; adaptive arrays; prototypes; real-time systems; antenna accessories; antenna arrays; antenna radiation patterns; wireless channels; communication system; liquid antenna technologies; liquid reconfigurable antenna arrays; liquid-based antennas; metallic liquids; nonmetallic liquids; radiating elements; radiation parameters; unprecedented flexibility; wireless communication systems