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At least 73 records · Page 4

Simulation of Spiral Slot Antennas on Composite Platforms

The project goals, plan and accomplishments up to this point are summarized in the viewgraphs. Among the various accomplishments, the most important have been: the development of the prismatic finite element code for doubly curved platforms and its validation with many different antenna configurations; the design and fabrication of a new slot spiral antennas suitable for automobile cellular, GPS and PCs communications; the investigation and development of various mesh truncation schemes, including the perfectly matched absorber and various fast integral equation methods; and the introduction of a frequency domain extrapolation technique (AWE) for predicting broadband responses using only a few samples of the response. This report contains several individual reports most of which have been submitted for publication to referred journals. For a report on the frequency extrapolation technique, the reader is referred to the UM Radiation Laboratory report A total of 14 papers have been published or accepted for publication with the full or partial support of this grant. Several more papers are in preparation.

Volakis, John L.↗

Application of an integral equation formulation to the prediction of space shuttle annular slot antenna radiation patterns

Pitch and roll plane radiation patterns computed by use of an integral equation formulation are presented for a space shuttle annular slot communications antenna. The excellent agreement between computed patterns and experimental patterns obtained from 1/35 scale models supports the use of this method as a design tool for similar spacecraft/aircraft antenna applications.

Jones, J. E.↗

An integral equation formulation for predicting radiation patterns of a space shuttle annular slot antenna

An integral equation formulation is applied to predict pitch- and roll-plane radiation patterns of a thin VHF/UHF (very high frequency/ultra high frequency) annular slot communications antenna operating at several locations in the nose region of the space shuttle orbiter. Digital computer programs used to compute radiation patterns are given and the use of the programs is illustrated. Experimental verification of computed patterns is given from measurements made on 1/35-scale models of the orbiter.

Jones, J. E.↗

Simulation of Conformal Spiral Slot Antennas on Composite Platforms

During the course of the grant, we wrote and distributed about 12 reports and an equal number of journal papers supported fully or in part by this grant. The list of reports (title & abstract) and papers are given in Appendices A and B. This grant has indeed been instrumental in developing a robust hybrid finite element method for the analysis of complex broadband antennas on doubly curved platforms. Previous to the grant, our capability was limited to simple printed patch antennas on mostly planar platforms. More specifically: (1) mixed element formulations were developed and new edge-based prisms were introduced; (2) these elements were important in permitting flexibility in geometry gridding for most antennas of interest; (3) new perfectly matched absorbers were introduced for mesh truncations associated with highly curved surfaces; (4) fast integral algorithms were introduced for boundary integral truncations reducing CPU time from O(N-2) down to O(N-1.5) or less; (5) frequency extrapolation schemes were developed for efficient broadband performance evaluations. This activity has been successfully continued by NASA researchers; (6) computer codes were developed and extensively tested for several broadband configurations. These include FEMA-CYL, FEMA-PRISM and FEMA-TETRA written by L. Kempel, T. Ozdemir and J. Gong, respectively; (7) a new infinite balun feed was designed nearly constant impedance over the 800-3000 MHz operational band; (8) a complete slot spiral antenna was developed, fabricated and tested at NASA Langley. This new design is a culmination of the projects goals and integrates the computational and experimental efforts. this antenna design resulted in a U.S. patent and was revised three times to achieve the desired bandwidth and gain requirements from 800-3000 MHz.

Volakis, J. L.↗

Active CPW-fed slot antennas for power combining applications

We have combined integrated circuit antenna technology with microwave oscillator design to build an active slot-oscillator. The design is planar, does not require via holes and is compatible with monolithic transistor technology. The CPW-fed antenna impedance is calculated using a full-wave analysis technique. Slot-oscillators were built at 7, 13, and 22 GHz, and the predicted oscillation frequencies agree well with experiments. The design is easily scaled to millimeter-wave frequencies and can be extended to power combining arrays.

Kormanyos, Brian K.↗

Simulation of patch and slot antennas using FEM with prismatic elements and investigations of artificial absorber mesh termination schemes

Year 1 progress can be characterized with four major achievements which are crucial toward the development of robust, easy to use antenna analysis code on doubly conformal platforms. (1) A new FEM code was developed using prismatic meshes. This code is based on a new edge based distorted prism and is particularly attractive for growing meshes associated with printed slot and patch antennas on doubly conformal platforms. It is anticipated that this technology will lead to interactive, simple to use codes for a large class of antenna geometries. Moreover, the codes can be expanded to include modeling of the circuit characteristics. An attached report describes the theory and validation of the new prismatic code using reference calculations and measured data collected at the NASA Langley facilities. The agreement between the measured and calculated data is impressive even for the coated patch configuration. (2) A scheme was developed for improved feed modeling in the context of FEM. A new approach based on the voltage continuity condition was devised and successfully tested in modeling coax cables and aperture fed antennas. An important aspect of this new feed modeling approach is the ability to completely separate the feed and antenna mesh regions. In this manner, different elements can be used in each of the regions leading to substantially improved accuracy and meshing simplicity. (3) A most important development this year has been the introduction of the perfectly matched interface (PMI) layer for truncating finite element meshes. So far the robust boundary integral method has been used for truncating the finite element meshes. However, this approach is not suitable for antennas on nonplanar platforms. The PMI layer is a lossy anisotropic absorber with zero reflection at its interface. (4) We were able to interface our antenna code FEMA_CYL (for antennas on cylindrical platforms) with a standard high frequency code. This interface was achieved by first generating equivalent magnetic currents across the antenna aperture using the FEM code. These currents were employed as the sources in the high frequency code.

Gong, J.↗

Cavity-backed spiral-slot antenna

Compact, rugged, flush-mounted antenna operates in sum or difference modes with circular polarization. Radiating elements consist of two pairs of centerfed, interleaved spiral slots in conductive aperature plane. At center feedpoint of each slot pair is balanced feed assembly. Center points are fed from split-tube coaxial balun passing through quarter-wave length deep cavity. Circularly polarized patterns represent both rceived and transmitted signals.

Ellis, H., Jr.↗

L-band orthogonal-mode crossed-slot antenna and VHF crossed-loop antenna

A low gain, circularly polarized, L-band antenna; a low gain, linealy polarized, L-band antenna; and a low gain, circularly polarized, upper hemisphere, VHF satellite communications antenna intended for airborne applications are described. The text includes impedance and antenna radiation pattern data, along with physical description of the construction of the antennas.

Olsson, T.↗

Linearly tapered slot antenna impedance characteristics

The paper presents for the first time an experimental technique to de-embed the input impedance of a LTSA from the measured reflection coefficient. The results show that the input impedance is dependent on the semi-flare angle and the length of the LTSA. The Re(Z(sub in)) is large when the electrical length of the LTSA is small and is on the order of few thousand ohms. However for an electrically large LTSA the Re(Z(sub in)) is in the range of 55 to 130 ohms. These results have potential applications in the design of broad band impedance matching networks for LTSA.

Simons, Rainee N.↗

W-Band On-Wafer Measurement of Uniplanar Slot-Type Antennas

Uniplanar slot-type antennas such as coplanar waveguide fed single- and dual-polarized slot-ring antennas and double folded-slot antennas are characterized using a millimeter-wave network analyzer and on-wafer measurement techniques. The antennas are designed to be mounted on a dielectric lens to minimize power loss into substrate modes and realize high-gain antenna patterns. On-wafer measurements are performed by placing the antenna wafer on a thick dielectric spacer of similar e(sub t) and eliminating the reflection from the probe station chuck with time-domain gating. The measured results agree well with method-of-moments simulations.

Raman, Sanjay↗

Modern Design of Resonant Edge-Slot Array Antennas

Resonant edge-slot (slotted-waveguide) array antennas can now be designed very accurately following a modern computational approach like that followed for some other microwave components. This modern approach makes it possible to design superior antennas at lower cost than was previously possible. Heretofore, the physical and engineering knowledge of resonant edge-slot array antennas had remained immature since they were introduced during World War II. This is because despite their mechanical simplicity, high reliability, and potential for operation with high efficiency, the electromagnetic behavior of resonant edge-slot antennas is very complex. Because engineering design formulas and curves for such antennas are not available in the open literature, designers have been forced to implement iterative processes of fabricating and testing multiple prototypes to derive design databases, each unique for a specific combination of operating frequency and set of waveguide tube dimensions. The expensive, time-consuming nature of these processes has inhibited the use of resonant edge-slot antennas. The present modern approach reduces costs by making it unnecessary to build and test multiple prototypes. As an additional benefit, this approach affords a capability to design an array of slots having different dimensions to taper the antenna illumination to reduce the amplitudes of unwanted side lobes. The heart of the modern approach is the use of the latest commercially available microwave-design software, which implements finite-element models of electromagnetic fields in and around waveguides, antenna elements, and similar components. Instead of building and testing prototypes, one builds a database and constructs design curves from the results of computational simulations for sets of design parameters. The figure shows a resonant edge-slot antenna designed following this approach. Intended for use as part of a radiometer operating at a frequency of 10.7 GHz, this antenna was fabricated from dimensions defined exclusively by results of computational simulations. The final design was found to be well optimized and to yield performance exceeding that initially required.

Gosselin, R. B.↗

Spiral slotted phased antenna array

A flush mounting, cavity-backed, dual orthogonal slot antenna for aircraft and space vehicles is described. Improved radiation pattern characteristics are obtained by making the spiral slot pattern elliptical in the aperture plane. A cavity and a flanged aperture plate are configured such that one slot pair is orthogonal with respect to another slot pair within the aperture plate. Coaxial split-tube baluns are used to drive the junctions between corresponding slot pairs. An optional cavity dielectric is provided and a drive coupling arrangement includes a four port comparator hybrid having sum and difference ports respectively, for alternate excitation to produce a single lobe or a double lobe pattern with null. Switching apparatus is provided to connect a common terminal to either of the ports.

Ellis, H., Jr.↗

A new planar feed for slot spiral antennas

This report presents a new planar, wideband feed network for a slot spiral antenna, and the subsequent design and performance of a VHF antenna utilizing this feed design. Both input impedance and radiation pattern measurements are presented to demonstrate the performance and usefulness of this feed. Almost all previous designs have utilized wire spirals, requiring bulky, non-planar feeds with separate baluns, and large absorbing cavities. The presented slot spiral antenna feed integrates the balun into the structure of the slot spiral antenna, making the antenna and feed planar. This greatly simplifies the design and construction of the antenna, in addition to providing repeatable accuracy. It also allows the use of a very shallow reflecting cavity for conformal applications. Finally, this feeding approach now makes many of the known miniaturization techniques viable options.

Nurnberger, M. W.↗