Inkjet‐printed 3D Hilbert‐curve fractal antennas for VHF band

Abstract

AbstractTwo miniaturized wire antennas using a 3D space‐filling Hilbert‐curve (HC) fractal geometry were constructed on a Kodak photo paper using inkjet printing. The proposed antennas each had the 3D dimensions of an 8 cm3 box and operate at very high‐frequency band frequencies of 238 and 147 MHz. We wrapped 4‐ and 2‐mm‐thick planar wires around a 3D box made of photo paper using second‐ and third‐order HC space‐filling fractal designs. The electrical volumes of the proposed second‐order HC and third‐order HC fractal antennas were 0.004 λ0 × 0.004 λ0 × 0.004 λ0 and 0.002 λ0 × 0.002 λ0 × 0.002 λ0, respectively. The operation of the proposed antennas was verified using simulation and measurement results.