Reconfigurable antenna

Abstract

A micro electromechanical (MEMS) antenna (36) is positioned on one side of a substrate and is connected to a MEMS switch comprising a capacitor bridge (46) and to a transmission line (42) by means of a thru hole or via (48) which forms an electrically conducting path through the substrate. This arrangement provides a common ground plane for the antenna and switch and shields the switch from the electromagnetic radiation received or transmitted from the antenna. The switch may comprise a topmost metal layer which extends across a bridge structure formed by a polymer layer (19). The polymer layer comprises poly-monochloro-para-xylene (parylene-C). Homogeneous or heterogeneous antenna array structures are implemented. The antenna arrays may include one or more different type of antennas with for example different shapes, rotations and reflections.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.