Three-Polarization-Reconfigurable Antenna Array Implemented by Liquid Metal

In order to implement circular polarization (CP) reconfigure, a semicircular ring antenna array has been designed by using liquid metal (LM). The array consists of eight CP antenna elements and a continuous-feeding network. A pair of slots are corroded on the radiation patch, and tubes are glued to the slots. The reconfigurable polarization was achieved by changing the current at the antenna surface after pushing the LM flowing to cover the slot with a microflow pump, then generating two degenerate modes. Therefore, a linear polarization and a right-/left-handed CP can be reconfigured. To verify this design, the antenna prototype has been fabricated; and the measurement results prove that the newly designed antenna array can archive three polarization forms, also presenting good work performance.