Perturbed square ring slot antenna with reconfigurable polarization

A reconfigurable polarization antenna includes a microwave dielectric substrate having a ground plane that has a centrally located slot with five conducting patches, four of which form an evenly spaced apart perimeter group with a gap between each and the fifth, centrally positioned conducting patch. A conducting pad is positioned in each gap and is connected via a switch to the ground plane. A microstrip feed line including a short stub is positioned on the opposite side of the substrate and electromagnetically coupled to the slot. The polarization of the antenna is reconfigured by a selection of an on or off state of each of said switches.