Recent developments toward reconfigurable mmWave apertures and components using vanadium dioxide RF switches

Abstract

Developing reconfigurable mmWave antennas and devices is an outstanding challenge, with switch technologies being a primary impediment. The advent of non-semiconductor switch technology, such as MEMS, has spurred further research in unconventional switch technology for mmWaves. Recently, it has been shown that vanadium dioxide, a thermochromic material whose resistance changes with temperature, could provide a path forward in developing reconfigurable mmWave devices. As an initial step towards this vision, we investigate the integration of vanadium dioxide switches in reconfigurable components at 15 GHz. In particular, a frequency reconfigurable antenna and a reconfigurable phase shifter are shown. The low loss and minimal parasitics of vanadium dioxide technology have the potential to enable devices at 15 GHz and beyond.