Wideband planar log‐periodic balun

This paper presents the analysis, design, and performance characteristics of a new planar balun structure. The design is based on the log‐periodic antenna theory. The design guidelines, as well as simulation and measured results, are presented. It is shown that the new balun has greater than one octave bandwidth. A comparison to the half‐wave balun is also included. The log‐periodic balun will find applications in wireless communication circuits or devices such as mixers, amplifiers, and antennas. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 11: 343–353, 2001.     

Wideband circularly polarized dielectric resonator antenna loaded with partially reflective surface

A wideband circularly polarized (CP) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) loaded with the partially reflective surface for gain enhancement is presented in this article. First, the DRA is excited by a microstrip line through modified stepped ring cross‐slot to generate the circular polarization. Four modified parasitic metallic plates are sequentially placed around the DRA for greatly widening the axial‐ratio bandwidth. Then, a partially reflective surface is introduced for enhancing the gain performance and further improving the CP bandwidth as well. Finally, an optimized prototype is fabricated to verify the design concept. The measured results show that the proposed DRA achieves 54.3% impedance bandwidth (VSWR<2) and 54.9% 3‐dB AR bandwidth. Besides, its average and peak gains are 10.7 dBic and 14.2 dBic, respectively. Wide CP band and high gains make the proposed DRA especially attractive for some broadband wireless applications such as satellite communication and remote sensing.     

A novel wideband circularly polarized modified square‐slot antenna with loaded strips

In this article, a novel inverted L‐shaped microstrip‐fed wideband circularly polarized (CP) modified square‐slot antenna is designed. By cutting a pair of triangle chamfers and introducing a pair of triangle patches at the square‐slot, the antenna achieves a wideband CP radiation. Moreover, CP performance of the antenna can also be remarkably enhanced by protruding an L‐shaped strip and embedding a tuning rectangle slot into the slot ground. The measured results demonstrate that the axial‐ratio bandwidth for AR < 3 is 75.1% (from 4.45 to 9.8 GHz) and the impedance bandwidth (|S₁₁| < ?10 dB) reaches 65.8% (from 4.95 to 9.8 GHz). In addition, surface current studies are performed to illustrate the operating mechanism of CP operation, and the antenna has bidirectional radiation characteristics with an average gain of ~4 dBic within the CP band.     

T‐fed for end‐fire pattern of log‐periodic microstrip array

This article considers feeding techniques for Log Periodic Microstrip‐Antenna Array (LPMA). It proposes simple design equations of LPMA for each feed configuration. For an operating band of 4 to 6 GHz, we use a scaling factor of 1.05. EM simulation studies and measurements on prototypes show that the T Fed LPMA gives 2 to 5 dBi gain improvement over other configurations. Unlike many other LPMA configurations, the proposed configuration follows proper Log‐Periodic principle with almost an end‐fire radiation pattern. These design principles will be useful in LPMA synthesis and the prototype‐based designs can find applications in various areas including Wi‐Fi, C band, and others.     

Planar dual‐mode wideband antenna using short‐circuited‐strips loaded slotline radiator: Operation principle,design, and validation

A novel dual‐mode planar wideband slotline antenna is proposed. A pair of short‐circuited strips is symmetrically introduced along the slotline resonator near the nulls of electric field distribution of the second odd‐order resonant mode. In this way, two resonant modes are excited in a single slotline radiator and are both used for radiation in a wide frequency range. With the help of these paired strips, the dominant half‐wavelength mode can be gradually moved to the three halves‐wavelength mode, resulting to achieve a wideband radiation with two resonances. Prototype antennas are then fabricated to experimentally validate the principle and design approach of the proposed planar slotline antenna. It is shown that the proposed slotline antenna's impedance bandwidth could be effectively increased to 37.6% while keeping its inherent narrow slot configuration with length‐to‐width ratio (LWR) up to 42.00. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 25:573–581, 2015.     

Design of a printed log‐periodic dipole array antenna with high gain for millimeter‐wave applications

In this article, a V‐band printed log‐periodic dipole array (PLPDA) antenna with high gain is proposed. The antenna prototype is designed, simulated, fabricated, and tested. Simulation results show that this antenna can operate from 42 to 82 GHz with a fractional impedance bandwidth of 64.5% covering the whole V‐band (50–75 GHz). The antenna has a measured impedance matching bandwidth that starts from 42 to beyond 65 GHz with good agreement between the experimental and simulated results. At 50 and 65 GHz, the antenna has a measured gain of 10.45 and 10.28 dBi, respectively, with a gain variation of 2.6 dBi across the measured frequency range. The antenna prototype exhibits also stable radiation patterns over the operating band. It achieves side‐lobe suppression better than 17.26 dB in the H‐plane and better than 8.95 dB in the E‐plane, respectively. In addition, the cross‐polarization component is 18.5 dB lower than the copolarization with front‐to‐back ratio lower than 24.1 dB in both E‐ and H‐planes across the desired frequency range. Based on a comparison of performance among the reported work in the literature, we can say that the proposed PLPDA antenna is a proper candidate to be used in many applications at V‐band frequency. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 25:185–193, 2015.     

A coaxial probe fed wideband circularly polarized antenna using unequal and adjacent‐slided rectangular dielectric resonators for WLAN applications

In this article, a coaxial probe fed wideband circularly polarized antenna has been designed and investigated using unequal and adjacent‐slided rectangular dielectric resonators radiating in broadside direction (Φ = 0°, θ = 0°). Wi‐Fi wireless network use radio signal either in 2.4 or 5 GHz band. Owing to high rush in 2.4 GHz band, the proposed antenna is designed for 5 GHz (5.15‐5.825 GHz) WLAN band. The proposed design uses fundamental orthogonal modes and excited in two individual rectangular dielectric resonators to achieve wide axial‐ratio bandwidth (below 3 dB). Measured input reflection coefficient (below ?10 dB) and axial ratio bandwidth (below 3 dB) of 26.07% (5.27‐6.85 GHz) and 26.85% (5.32‐6.97 GHz) has been attained, respectively, in this proposed antenna. The measured far‐field patterns such as gain and radiation patterns are showing consistent performance throughout the working band.     

Rod-ring dielectric resonator antenna

A dielectric resonator combining two cylindrical dielectrics of different material and height and excited by a coaxial probe is considered. The effect of the antenna parameters, such as the ratio of the height and radius of the dielectrics and the effect of the probe length, are investigated. Analysis of the antenna is performed numerically using the method of moments (MoM) and verified by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Agreement between the two methods is excellent. The performance of the antenna on a cellular-communication system is also considered. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 14, 441–446, 2004.     

A new dual C‐shaped rectangular dielectric resonator based antenna for wideband circularly polarized radiation

This article presents a new dual C‐shaped rectangular dielectric resonator (DR) based antenna for generation of wideband circularly polarized (CP) radiation. The proposed antenna comprises of a pair of C‐shaped rectangular dielectric DR and a metal strip with a coaxial probe. By utilization of a metal strip at the side surface of C‐shaped rectangular DR, the wideband CP radiation is achieved from the proposed dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). Fundamental orthogonal modes (TE^x_δ11 and TE^y_1δ1) are excited using the rectangular DRA with a metal strip for the generation of CP fields. The proposed antenna with dual C‐shaped rectangular CP DRA provides the measured ?10 dB reflection coefficient bandwidth of 30.07% (3.22 GHz‐4.36 GHz) with measured 3‐dB axial ratio bandwidth of 14.81% (3.25 GHz‐3.77 GHz) at the boresight. The proposed antenna covers the useful Wi‐MAX band.     

Single‐layer low‐profile wideband circularly polarized patch antenna surrounded by periodic metallic plates

This article presents a simple design of circularly polarized (CP) antenna with low profile and wideband operation characteristics. To achieve these desirable features, a truncated corner squared patch is chosen as primary radiating source and surrounded by periodic metallic plates for bandwidth enhancement. Notably, all the radiating elements are designed on a single layer of substrate using printed circuit techniques, which significantly reduces the design complexity. The final prototype with overall size of 0.60λ_o × 0.60λ_o × 0.05λ_o (λ_o is free‐space wavelength at the center operating frequency) was fabricated and tested. Measured results show that the proposed antenna has wide operation bandwidth of 19.7% (5.1‐6.2 GHz). Additionally, broadside gain ranging from 5.0 to 6.9 dBic is also attained within the operating band. In comparison with the other reported antennas in literature, the proposed one has the simplest design architecture with competitive operating bandwidth.     

A hybrid printed monopole antenna loaded with dielectric resonator for wideband and circular polarization applications

This article presents a novel compact circularly polarized antenna with wideband operation. The proposed antenna consists of a microstrip‐line‐fed printed monopole, a finite truncated ground, and a dielectric resonator (DR). Compared to the printed monopole antenna, the proposed DR‐loaded antenna has an increased impedance bandwidth, a large axial ratio bandwidth, and a good realized gain across the desired frequency range. An antenna prototype is fabricated and experimentally tested. The measured antenna impedance match is better than ?10 dB over 90% from 4.5 to 11.8 GHz frequency band and the 3‐dB axial‐ratio bandwidth is better than 35% covering the 5.4–7.65 GHz frequency band. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE , 2012.     

Additively manufactured trapezoidal grooves for wideband and high gain Ku‐band antenna

Grooves around aperture antennas are known to be instrumental in obtaining directive antenna patterns. The shapes of the grooves are often restricted to rectangular or triangular due to manufacturing difficulties in traditional metal machining, and because of this reason, the effect of groove shape on antenna performance is often overlooked. The aim of this study is to analyze different groove shapes with the help of additive manufacturing. Waveguide slot fed, dual cavity aperture antenna with grooves is designed and the effect of groove shapes on antenna performance is studied at Ku band. Two antennas with and without grooves are built using 3D printing technology. Measured antenna performance reveals 5 GHz bandwidth covering 10 to 15 GHz for Ku‐band satellite communications and part of the X‐band applications. Proposed antenna achieves 13.25 dBi peak gain at 14 GHz and the gain is better than 11.25 dBi over the entire Ku‐band uplink and downlink frequency bands.     

A new printed log‐periodic dipole array (PLPDA) antenna with bandwidth broadening and gain improving

A broader impedance bandwidth and higher gain printed log‐periodic dipole array antenna fed by half‐mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) is proposed in this letter for ultra‐wideband (UWB) wireless communication applications. The bandwidth of the reference antenna (5.1‐11.4 GHz) is expanded by 1.3 GHz by introducing a new resonance frequency with additional patches. Moreover; gain is enhanced over full band by attaching metal plate to narrow beam and adding directors to attract energy radiated by dipoles. A simulation analysis of the improved antenna with broader bandwidth of 4.1 to 11.7 GHz and higher gain is presented, along with a design procedure and experimental results. Measurement results are consistent with simulation results, which verifies the feasibility of this technique.     

Wideband microstrip‐based wearable antenna backed with full ground plane

A wideband microstrip‐based wearable antenna with a fractional bandwidth of 51% is designed using textile materials for wearable applications. The antenna operates between 2 and 3 GHz with low back‐radiation to ensure minimum coupling to the body and reduced electromagnetic power absorption in the human tissue. The behavior microstrip antenna topology, which is narrowband in nature, is altered via the combinations of various broadbanding techniques, while maintaining the existence of the full ground plane backing. This ensures that the antenna radiation is directed outward form the body to efficiently propagate wireless signals toward other off‐body nodes and base stations. Simulation and measurement results indicated that the use of this microstrip topology with multiple broadbanding techniques is capable of reducing the back lobe, resulting in a front‐to‐back ratio of about 17 dB and a 3.5 dBi of average gain.     

Offset‐fed trapezoidal monopole antenna for broadband circular polarization

A novel broadband circularly polarized monopole antenna consisting of an isosceles trapezoidal monopole antenna which is offset fed by a microstrip line is presented. By choosing an appropriate offset, it is possible to establish two orthogonal current components that are out of phase by 90° and thus producing circular polarization. The axial ratio bandwidth of the proposed antenna has been further increased by adding a vertical slot parallel to the microstrip feed line. The measured results show that the proposed antenna has a 34.57% (1.89 GHz to 2.68 GHz) 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth. The ?10 dB reflection coefficient bandwidth is 122.53% (1.04 GHz to 4.33 GHz). The advantages of the proposed antenna are simplicity and a broad 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth.     

Double‐ridged conical horn antenna for wideband applications

In this article, the design and analysis of a double‐ridged conical horn antenna with high gain and low cross polarization for wideband applications is presented. Double‐ridged pyramidal horn antennas have been investigated in many references. There are no papers in the literature which are devoted to design and analysis of double‐ridged conical horn antenna. The designed antenna has a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) less than 2.1 for the frequency range of 8–18 GHz. Moreover, the proposed antenna exhibits extremely low cross polarization, low side lobe level, high gain, and stable far‐field radiation characteristics in the entire operating bandwidth. A new technique for synthesizing of the horn flare section is introduced. A coaxial line to circular double‐ridged waveguide transition is introduced for coaxial feeding of the designed antenna. The proposed antenna is simulated with commercially available packages such as CST microwave studio and Ansoft HFSS in the operating frequency range. Simulation results for the VSWR, radiation patterns, and gain of the designed antenna over the frequency band 8–18 GHz are presented and discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2009.     

Investigation of higher order modes excitation through F‐shaped slot in rectangular dielectric resonator antenna for wideband circular polarization with broadside radiation characteristics

In this article, a wideband circularly polarized rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (RDRA) with broadside radiation characteristics has been proposed. By using modified ground plane having an F‐shaped slot, the proposed structure able to generates three sets of modes i.e., fundamental as well as higher order modes. To obtained circular polarization, an orthogonal mode (TE₁₁₃) in the RDRA has been generated by using the F‐shaped slot on the modified ground plane. The resonance frequency of fundamental mode (TE₁₁₁) in the rectangular dielectric resonator (DR) has been calculated by using dielectric waveguide model method. The same has been confirmed through E‐field distribution in RDRA. Here, wide axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of the proposed antenna is due to the generation of and modes. It is observed that input impedance bandwidth has been broadening with a pair of excited modes ( and modes) in the proposed antenna structure. All these modes have been excited and merged to form a wide input impedance bandwidth and wide AR bandwidth of the designed antenna. The proposed antenna shows measured input reflection coefficient (S₁₁ < ?10 dB) of 50.55% and measured AR bandwidth (AR < 3 dB) of 14.28%. The designed antenna shows left‐handed circular polarization in broadside direction and offering an average gain and radiation efficiency of 4.29 dBic and 92.22% respectively.     

Hybrid wideband dual‐cylindrical circularly polarized dielectric resonator antennas excited with S‐shaped microstrip feed for sub‐6 GHz frequency range

In this article, a hybrid microstrip fed dual‐cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna (dual‐CDRA) has been proposed for the sub‐6 GHz band application with a wide circular polarization band. The proposed hybrid microstrip feed cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna utilizes an S‐shaped microstrip feed line to excite fundamental HE_11δ like mode and hybrid mode in dual‐CDRAs. The presented antenna structures are acting as monopole antenna separately with 48.75% (3.88‐6.38 GHz) bandwidth whereas both radiators called dual‐CDRAs enhances the bandwidth up to 93.06% (2.16‐5.92 GHz) in addition with an axial ratio bandwidth of 15.2% (3.52‐4.1 GHz). The proposed antenna is applicable for WiMAX (3.4‐3.69 GHz), and WLAN application of 802.11d and 8.02.11e IEEE standard. For validation of simulated results, an antenna prototype has been fabricated and experimentally verified. A good agreement between simulation and measured results are obtained. The simulation results have been carried out by using Ansys HFSS 14.0 version software.     

Electrically coupled dual semicylindrical dielectric resonator antenna with inverted arrangement for wideband applications

In this article, an electrically coupled dual semicylindrical dielectric resonator antenna (SC‐DRA) is presented and discussed for wideband applications. The two SC‐DRAs are placed in an inverted arrangement and fed by a coaxial probe to excite the fundamental mode TM _11δ and higher order mode TM _21δ. In the proposed design, wideband performance is obtained by combining the fundamental and higher order mode. Proposed wideband antenna is showing simulated and measured input impedance bandwidth (|S₁₁| ≤ ?10 dB) of 57.94% (3.8‐6.9 GHz) and 64.4% (3.38‐6.6 GHz), respectively. The far field radiation patterns are found to be consistent and 3‐dB beamwidth of 49° and 30° has been achieved at 4.11 and 6.48 GHz, respectively within the working band. This design attains an average gain of 5.65 dBi and radiation efficiency of 97%, respectively.     

A coplanar waveguide‐fed flexible antenna for ultra‐wideband applications

This paper presents a novel ultra‐wideband (UWB) antenna printed on a 70 μm thick flexible substrate. The proposed antenna consists of a hybrid‐shaped patch fed by coplanar waveguide (CPW). The ground planes on opposite sides of the feeding line have different height to improve antenna bandwidth. Simulation shows that the proposed antenna maintain wide bandwidth when changing its substrate's thickness and dielectric constant, as well as bending the antenna on a cylindrical foam. The proposed antenna is fabricated in laboratory with a simple and low‐cost wet printed circuit board (PCB) etching technique. Measured bandwidths cover 3.06 to 13.58, 2.8 to 13.55, and 3.1 to 12.8 GHz in cases of flat state and bent with radii of 20 and 10 mm, respectively. Measured radiation patterns show the antenna is omnidirectional in flat and bent cases.