| dc.description.abstract | In modern RF systems, tunable devices are increasingly necessary to provide agility in crowded spectral environments. The antenna, as an integral part of any wireless system, must be capable of operating well at multiple frequencies and in a variety of environments where space and spectrum are at a premium. This work presents a novel method of magnetic reconfiguration through actuation of a ferrofluid load with a permanent magnetic field. When compared with previously published methods utilizing DC voltage, ferrofluid actuation has the benefit of providing electrical isolation between the tuning mechanism and the tunable element. Furthermore, we show in this work that magnetic actuation of ferrofluid allows for continuous tuning across frequency with a permanent magnet bias, as opposed to conventional magnetic tuning methods which normally require application of a variable magnetic field to a stationary load. Magnetic actuation of ferrofluid can be accomplished at a distance with a combination of magnets, and the system remains configured by the local bias magnet even after removal of the positioning field. Thus, magnetic tuning at a distance with ferrofluid offers a way to compensate for antenna package loading effects in situ. This work shows that magnetic tuning with a repositionable ferrofluid load has a broad range of applications in reconfigurable filter and antenna design. | en_US |
