Directive and Reconfigurable Antenna for Wireless Sensor Network to Improve Link Quality between Nodes

In this paper, the use of a four-switchable beam antenna dedicated to Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) in the 2.4 ISM band (2.4–2.485 GHz) to improve link quality between nodes is presented. It consists of two fed monopoles and two loaded parasitic ones. Reconfigurability is achieved using reflector and director elements activated by PIN diodes. The structure is capable of steering its radiation pattern in the azimuth plane, covering a 360◦ angle with four beams (0°, 90°, 180° and 270°). The total gain achieved is 4 dBi for each beam in the azimuth plane. The performed campaign test pointed out an improvement of the link quality, visible through the RSSI.