Antenna Design Research Articles

ISM band CPW-fed antenna for detection of skin cancer

A CPW-fed antenna sensor with high quality factor is designed to identify the skin cancer. The proposed antenna operates in the ISM band at 2.47 GHz frequency. The proposed antenna aims to exploit the variations in dielectric constants of skin, fat, and muscle tissues to enable non-invasive and early detection of skin cancer. The antenna design process involves considerations for achieving a high frequency shift and quality factor to discern subtle variations in dielectric properties. Electromagnetic simulations, utilizing advanced numerical techniques are employed to analyze the antenna's performance in different tissue environments. The proposed antenna design is optimized for enhancing its sensitivity to changes in the dielectric constants associated with healthy and cancerous skin tissues. To validate the antenna's effectiveness, experimental setups using tissue-mimicking phantoms are utilized. This research not only emphasizes the technical aspects of antenna design but also underscores the potential clinical applications for non-invasive skin cancer detection.

Simulation Design of a Triple Antenna Combination for PET‐MRI Imaging Compatible With 3, 7, and 11.74 T MRI Scanner

ABSTRACTThe use of electromagnetism and the design of antennas in the field of medical imaging have played important roles in clinical practice. Specifically, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilizes transmission and reception antennas, or coils, that are tuned to specific frequencies depending on the strength of the main magnet. Clinical scanners operating at 3 Teslas (T) function at a frequency of 127 MHz, while research scanners at 7 T operate at 300 MHz. An 11.74 T scanner for human imaging, which is currently under development, will operate at a frequency of 500 MHz. MRI allows for the high‐definition scanning of biological tissues, making it a valuable tool for enhancing images acquired with positron emission tomography (PET). PET is an imaging modality used to evaluate the metabolism of organs or cancers. With recent advancements in the development of portable PET systems that can be integrated into any MRI scanner, we propose the design based on electromagnetic simulations of a triple‐tuned array of dipole antennas to operate at 127, 300, and 500 MHz. This array can be attached to the PET inset and used in 3, 7, or 11.74 T scanners.

Millimeter micro‐coaxial beam steering array for high‐speed satellite communications

AbstractWide‐band low‐loss passive beam steering array presents to be essential part of the RF front‐ends for high‐speed detection during deep space exploration missions. In this letter, the copper‐based additive manufacturing technology is proposed for the implementation of low‐profile (~0.1λ) antenna design. Adopting the micro‐coaxial line as the basic design unit enables wide bandwidth design. In addition, the broadband designs of Butler matrix, planar antenna element, and transmission transitions are proposed, respectively. The miniaturization of the metallic patch antenna is realized using a double slotted design, ensuring an array space of ~0.5λ, which beneficial for the low‐lobe beam steering. Experimental results show that the antenna array with an overall size of 39 × 29 × 0.5 mm presents four beams located at ±14° and ±43°, respectively. The bandwidth of return loss better than −10 dB ranges from 65 to 71 GHz. The measured result matches well with the simulated ones, which makes its potential operation for satellite applications.

H-Shape Microstrip Patch Antenna: Design, Simulation, and Characterization

This paper presents the design, simulation, and characterization of an H-shape microstrip patch antenna intended for high-frequency applications. The proposed antenna is modeled using Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio, a powerful tool for simulating electromagnetic fields and optimizing antenna parameters. The H-shaped configuration is chosen to enhance the antenna's radiation characteristics, bandwidth, and gain, while minimizing size and surface wave effects. The design process involves parameter optimization, including substrate selection, patch dimensions, and feed point configuration, to achieve superior performance. Detailed simulation results are presented, demonstrating the antenna's return loss, VSWR, gain, and radiation pattern. The antenna operates efficiently with stable resonance, offering low return loss and high radiation efficiency. The simulation results confirm that the H-shape microstrip patch antenna is well-suited for various wireless communication systems, showing potential for integration in compact, high-performance devices. This paper serves as a step towards further optimization and practical implementation of H-shape microstrip antennas in advanced RF systems.

Circular Microstrip Patch Antenna : Design, Simulation, and Analysis For 5G Applications

Microstrip Patch Antennas (MPA) have emerged as a remarkable discovery in the period of miniaturization, despite the fact that advancements in antenna engineering have resulted in the fast growth of communication networks. This work encompasses the design, modelling, and analysis of circular microstrip patch antennas. The resonant frequency of the recommended patch antennas is 9 GHz, which is within the X band range. Ansys HFSS software was used to create them using Rogers RT/duroid 5880 material, which has a dielectric constant of 2.2. Five performance measures were utilized to examine the recommended MPAs: return loss, bandwidth, VSWR, gain, and HPBW. The required information refers to the measurements of return loss, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), and half power beamwidth (HPBW). The recommended antennas are ideal for use in radar, wireless, and satellite applications.

Design of Active V-Dipole Antenna on UAS for Receiving NOAA Polar Satellite Imagery

Design of Active V-Dipole Antenna on UAS for Receiving NOAA Polar Satellite Imagery

The effect of feed mechanisms on the structural design of flexible antennas, and research on their material processing and applications.

Flexible antennas are widely used in mobile communications, the Internet of Things, personalized medicine, aerospace, and military technologies due to their superior performance in terms of adaptability, impact resistance, high degree of freedom, miniaturization of structures, and cost-effectiveness. With excellent flexibility and portability, these antennas are now being integrated into paper, textiles, and even the human body to withstand the various mechanical stresses of daily life without compromising their performance. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the basic principles and current development of flexible antennas, systematically analyze the key performance factors of flexible antennas, such as structure, process, material, and application environment, and then discuss in detail the design structure, material selection, preparation process, and corresponding experimental validation of flexible antennas. Flexible antenna design in mobile communication, wearable devices, biomedical technology, and other fields in recent years has been emphasized. Finally, the development status of flexible antenna technology is summarized, and its future development trend and research direction are proposed.

A Novel Two-dimensional Low-redundancy Array Design for Solar Radio Imaging

The radioheliograph is an extensive array of antennas operating on the principle of aperture synthesis to produce images of the Sun. The image acquired by the telescope results from convoluting the Sun’s true brightness distribution with the antenna array’s directional pattern. The imaging quality of the radioheliograph is affected by a multitude of factors, with the performance of the “dirty beam” being simply one component. Other factors such as imaging methods, calibration techniques, clean algorithms, and more also play a significant influence on the resulting image quality. As the layout of the antenna array directly affects the performance of the dirty beam, the design of an appropriate antenna configuration is critical to improving the imaging quality of the radioheliograph. Based on the actual needs of observing the Sun, this work optimized the antenna array design and proposed a two-dimensional low-redundancy array. The proposed array was compared with common T-shaped arrays, Y-shaped arrays, uniformly spaced circular arrays, and three-arm spiral arrays. Through simulations and experiments, their performance in terms of sampling point numbers, UV coverage area, beam-half width, sidelobe level, and performance in the absence of antennas are compared and analyzed. It was found that each of these arrays has its advantages, but the two-dimensional low-redundancy array proposed in this paper performs best in overall evaluation. It has the shortest imaging calculation time among the array types and is highly robust when antennas are missing, making it the most suitable choice.

A birdcage resonant antenna for helicon wave generation in TORPEX.

A birdcage resonant helicon antenna is designed, mounted, and tested in the toroidal device TORPEX. The birdcage resonant antenna is an alternative to the usual Boswell or half-helical antenna designs commonly used for ∼10 cm diameter helicon sources in low temperature plasma devices. The main advantage of the birdcage antenna lies in its resonant nature, which makes it easily operational even at large scales, an appealing feature for the TORPEX device whose poloidal cross section is 40cm in diameter. With this antenna, helicon waves are shown to be launched and sustained throughout the whole torus of TORPEX. The helicon waves can be launched at low power on a pre-existing magnetron-generated plasma with little effect on the density profiles. The birdcage antenna can also be used alone to produce plasma, which removes the constraint of a narrow range of applied magnetic fields required by the magnetron, opening the way to a new range of studies on TORPEX with the external magnetic field as a control parameter.

A Systematic Review of Meta‐Surface Based Antennas for Thz Applications

AbstractThe growing demand for advanced wireless communication, high‐resolution imaging, and innovative medical applications in the Terahertz (THz) frequency range has driven remarkable developments in meta‐surface‐based antennas. This comprehensive review delves into the cutting‐edge advancements, novel designs, and practical applications of meta‐surfaces in the THz spectrum. The review begins by exploring the materials employed in meta‐surfaces and their crucial role in achieving efficient THz operation. It delves into the realm of polarization diversity, revealing innovative approaches to harnessing the potential of meta‐surfaces for polarization control and conversion. A key area of focus is beam‐steering technology, with a thorough investigation into beam‐steering techniques that have significant implications for enhancing wireless communication, high‐resolution imaging, and the internet of things. The paper highlights the potential of these techniques in addressing real‐world challenges and advancing THz technology. Furthermore, this review provides an in‐depth examination of the innovative antenna designs tailored for THz applications, shedding light on their characteristics and benefits. It also explores the exciting possibilities of THz technology within the medical field, including precise bio sensing and cancer cell detection.

Design of Microstrip Patch Antenna for WSN Application

Abstract: This paper focuses on the design and simulation of a microstrip patch antenna for Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) applications, utilizing HFSS (High-Frequency Structure Simulator) software and an FR-4 epoxy substrate. The objective is to develop an efficient and cost-effective antenna tailored for the 2.4 GHz frequency band, commonly used in WSNs due to its favourable propagation characteristics. The choice of FR-4 epoxy substrate, with a relative dielectric constant (ࡾࢿ (of 4.4 provides a balance of performance, availability, and cost-effectiveness. These properties are crucial in determining the antenna's resonant frequency and overall efficiency. The design process involves optimizing the dimensions of the rectangular microstrip patch antenna to achieve the desired frequency and performance metrics. HFSS simulation tools are employed to model the antenna's behaviour, allowing for precise adjustments and performance predictions. Key parameters analysed include return loss (S11), gain, radiation pattern, and bandwidth.

Experimental demonstration of a silicon nanophotonic antenna for far-field broadened optical phased arrays

Optical antennas play a pivotal role in interfacing integrated photonic circuits with free-space systems. Designing antennas for optical phased arrays ideally requires achieving compact antenna apertures, wide radiation angles, and high radiation efficiency all at once, which presents a significant challenge. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a novel ultra-compact silicon grating antenna, utilizing subwavelength grating nanostructures arranged in a transversally interleaved topology to control the antenna radiation pattern. Through near-field phase engineering, we increase the antenna’s far-field beam width beyond the Fraunhofer limit for a given aperture size. The antenna incorporates a single-etch grating and a Bragg reflector implemented on a 300-nm-thick silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. Experimental characterizations demonstrate a beam width of 44°×52° with −3.22 dB diffraction efficiency, for an aperture size of 3.4 μm×1.78 μm. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, a novel topology of a 2D antenna array is demonstrated for the first time, leveraging evanescently coupled architecture to yield a very compact antenna array. We validated the functionality of our antenna design through its integration into this new 2D array topology. Specifically, we demonstrate a small proof-of-concept two-dimensional optical phased array with 2×4 elements and a wide beam steering range of 19.3º × 39.7º. A path towards scalability and larger-scale integration is also demonstrated on the antenna array of 8×20 elements with a transverse beam steering of 31.4º.

Theoretical investigation of HTS compact microstrip antennas printed on anisotropic substrates using hybrid cavity model

This work explores the effects of a compact, superconducting C-shaped patch printed on uniaxial anisotropic substrate, utilizing two uniaxial substrate materials: boron nitride and magnesium fluoride. This study employed the superconducting material BSCCO (2212 BSCCO crystal), with a critical temperature of 95 K. Using the hybrid cavity model, we identified and extracted two key parameters: the resonance frequency of conductive elements and the superconducting resonance frequency. We analyzed the impact of the operating temperature on the resonant frequency of a C-shaped superconductivity microstrip antenna, as well as the effect of the uniaxial substrate material and its thickness on the surface resistance and surface reactance. The results showed that temperature significantly affects the resonant frequency of the compact antenna. Our research highlighted the importance of selecting the correct operating temperature for a superconducting microstrip antenna to ensure optimal performance in compact microstrip antenna designs.

Multilayer multiband hybrid fractal antenna for public safety and 5G Sub-6 GHz bands

In this work, a multiband hybrid fractal antenna is developed for public safety and 5G Sub-6 GHz bands. Proposed antenna design is designed, analyzed, and optimized using HFSS simulator. Radiating element of the proposed antenna consists of Hybrid Fractal shape which is designed using Koch and Hilbert curve fractal geometry. Hybrid Fractal Antenna (HFA) is designed on a Multilayer FR4 substrate which has an overall size of 0.22 × 0.47 × 0.044 ƛ3. Parametric analysis of the proposed design is done to get the optimum results. Proposed HFA resonates at 2.64 GHz (2.34–2.80 GHz), 3.87, 4.54, 5.02, 5.35 GHz (3.73–5.55 GHz), and 6.42 GHz (5.70–6.72 GHz) with a gain of 4.2, 0.9, 2.9, 3.3, 4.6, and 3.7 dBi respectively. The proposed HFA is useful for 5G bands such as: N7 band, N38 band, N40 band, N41 band, N47 band, N53 band, N79 band, N90 band and N93 band, and also useful for public safety band (4.9 GHz). Prototype of the proposed HFA is fabricated and tested in lab for the verification of simulated results. The results show good performance in terms of reflection coefficient, gain, and bandwidth. Measured results are in good agreement with the simulated results.

A planar-structured circularly polarized single-layer MIMO antenna for wideband millimetre-wave applications

This paper presents a planar multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna with dual circular polarization (CP) and a simple geometry for millimetre-wave band. The proposed design is featuring a fully grounded coplanar waveguide (CPW) and a systematically perturbed feedline radiator. The symmetry of the electric field is disrupted using varying stub sizes and offsets between the stubs, resulting in wideband operation and circularly polarized waves. Following full optimization of the physical parameters, the numerical design is validate experimentally. The results indicate that the proposed antenna design achieves a −10 dB impedance bandwidth from 24.6 GHz to 32.1 GHz, with an axial ratio (AR) of 3 dB or less from 26 GHz to 31.8 GHz. The peak realized gain is 10.3 dBic, with steady broadside radiation. The envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) is 0.01, and the diversity gain is 10 dB across the operating band. The planar structure and the wideband performance of the proposed design makes it suitable for application necessitating fix beam applications in the mm-wave band.

Development of an innovative patch antenna design and implementation using ENG materials for health care systems and 5G networks

The object of this study is a new design of an overhead microstrip antenna, including Epsilon Negative (ENG) metamaterials and L-shaped parasitic overlays aimed at achieving dual-band operation and improving the performance of modern wireless communication systems. The research is aimed at solving the problem of limited bandwidth and dual-band functionality in conventional antenna designs. This study solves the problem of limited bandwidth and dual-band functionality in conventional microstrip patch antenna designs, which are crucial for modern wireless communication systems. The inclusion of L-shaped parasitic overlays effectively expands the bandwidth in each frequency range. The results indicate significant improvements: at the upper resonant frequency, a 10 dB return loss bandwidth of 27.84 % (2.88–3.81 GHz) and a 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 5.05 % (2.90–3.05 GHz) are achieved, while at the lower resonant frequency, a return loss bandwidth is 10 dB, which is 6.11 % (2.22–2.36 GHz). These improvements indicate a significant increase in antenna performance compared to conventional designs, which is confirmed by comparing the simulation results with the measurement results. Distinctive features contributing to these results include the use of ENG metamaterials, which improve electromagnetic properties and signal propagation; vertical transitions, which provide efficient dual-band operation; and L-shaped parasitic overlays, which significantly expand bandwidth. These characteristics combine to eliminate the limitations of traditional designs, which makes the proposed antenna suitable for use in a wide frequency range in modern wireless communication systems.

A Review of the Applications of Through-the-Earth (TTE) Communication Systems for Underground Mines

AbstractUnderground mining accidents have the potential of leaving miners trapped in unknown and life-threatening locations for an extended period of time. The lives of the trapped and unaccounted-for miners are at risk and require emergency rescue. But, the primary tracking systems are highly susceptible to damage during accidents and are most likely to be defunct and inoperable post-accident. This prompted the need for a robust and reliable post-accident communication and locator system. Subsequently, the through-the-earth (TTE) communication systems were developed and tested in underground mines. Under ideal conditions, these systems are capable of post-accident full-duplex two-way voice, text, and data communication and fingerprint detection of the geolocations of the trapped miners. This is achieved through a wireless link established by the transmission of electromagnetic and seismic waves between surface and underground, even in challenged underground environments. Unlike the primary tracking systems, the TTE communication systems do not require extensive shaft-to-workplace backbone infrastructure. This has made the TTE systems to be less susceptible to damage and therefore suitable for post-accident communication. Instead, the Earth’s crust acts as the signal transmission medium which forms an uplink and downlink communication path. This is achieved by injecting an electric current into the ground using electrodes, by transmitting magnetic fields from a radiating loop antenna, or by inducing fingerprint geolocations using seismic waves. Range and data rates are the critical requirements for the effectiveness of these systems and are dependent on factors such as the antenna design, frequency, and rock properties. This study provides a review of the applications of the different types of TTE communication systems, their evolution, factors that affect them, and techniques for improving their efficiencies and capabilities. These systems present the mining industry with an opportunity to improve safety by providing post-accident communication and locating trapped miners as quickly as possible. This will improve their survival chances and ultimately reduce fatality rates in the mining industry.

Design of deployable mesh reflector antenna based on cable-dome tensegrity structure

In large-aperture deployable antennas, such as the AstroMesh antenna, the back-to-back arrangement of double-layer paraboloids can lead to size and weight exceeding the limits of the launch vehicle. To address this, a deployable mesh reflector antenna based on a cable-dome tensegrity structure, composed of tension cables and compression rods, is proposed. The structure and elementary unit of the cable-dome are presented, followed by the introduction of a W-deployable truss to meet the single-layer boundary node-hanging requirements. The geometric parameters and deployment kinematics are analyzed, leading to the optimization and simulation of a 50 m-aperture antenna. Compared to a same-aperture AstroMesh antenna, the cable-dome antenna offers a smaller folded size and weight. Finally, a 2 m-aperture prototype was constructed, and its feasibility verified through deployment experiments and surface accuracy photogrammetry. The proposed cable-dome antenna shows significant potential in large-aperture deployable antenna applications.

A Deep Learning Application for Dolph-Tschebyscheff Antenna Array Optimisation

This paper proposes a design for a Dolph-Tschebyscheff-weighted microstrip antenna array using a deep learning application. For this purpose, a multilayer perceptron and a deep learning model, both created using the same data set generated by a genetic algorithm, were compared. The antenna array population is initially generated randomly and then optimised with a genetic algorithm. The data produced by this model becomes a data set used for training in the deep learning application. The dimensions and specifications of the antenna array are obtained from this application, ensuring precision and optimisation in the design process. A new microstrip antenna array structure is employed for the proposed method, taking advantage of this design technique. The Dolph-Tschebyscheff weights are applied to achieve better characteristics for the microstrip antenna array, thus obtaining low side lobe levels, which are crucial for enhancing signal clarity and reducing interference. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm significantly improves the specifications of the structure. This improvement highlights the potential for integrating deep learning with traditional optimisation algorithms for advanced antenna design.

Design of a Compact Multiband Monopole Antenna with MIMO Mutual Coupling Reduction.

In this article, the authors present the design of a compact multiband monopole antenna measuring 30 × 10 × 1.6 mm3, which is aimed at optimizing performance across various communication bands, with a particular focus on Wi-Fi and sub-6G bands. These bands include the 2.4 GHz band, the 3.5 GHz band, and the 5-6 GHz band, ensuring versatility in practical applications. Another important point is that this paper demonstrates effective methods for reducing mutual coupling through two meander slits on the common ground, resembling a defected ground structure (DGS) between two antenna elements. This approach achieves mutual coupling suppression from -6.5 dB and -9 dB to -26 dB and -13 dB at 2.46 GHz and 3.47 GHz, respectively. Simulated and measured results are in good agreement, demonstrating significant improvements in isolation and overall multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system performance. This research proposes a compact multiband monopole antenna and demonstrates a method to suppress coupling in multiband antennas, making them suitable for internet of things (IoT) sensor devices and Wi-Fi infrastructure systems.