A compact radiation pattern diversity antenna for WLAN applications

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel planar antenna structure with a radiation pattern diversity. Such an antenna is designed for wireless indoor network applications and is particularly suitable for improving system performances in a multipath propagation environment. The new antenna structure is based on two tangential annular slot antennas etched on one side of a dielectric substrate and fed by electromagnetic coupling to microstrip feeding lines. This structure also incorporates an integrated switching function which allows control of the radiation pattern. Actually three radiation pattern configurations can be checked thanks to two PIN diodes.