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Design and Development of Small Active and Passive Loop Antennas for
Measurement of Shielding Effectiveness per IEEE Std.299

Conference Paper · February 2014

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Veerendra SINGH Jadaun Prakriti Kumar Srivastava

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 Antenna Test & Measurement Society (ATMS - 14)

Design and Development of Small Active and

Passive Loop Antennas for Measurement of
Shielding Effectiveness per IEEE Std.299.
Veerendra Singh Jadaun¹, P. K. Srivastava², L. M. Awasthi2, Kanhiya Lal¹.
1-Sahajanand Laser Technology Ltd., Sector 26, Electronic Estate, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, INDIA
www.sltmicrowave.com Email: kanhiyalal@sahajanandlaser.com, mob. +91 9810596888
2- Institute of Plasma Research, Bhat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, INDIA.

Abstract- The small sized (diameter ~ 0.3m) electro-statically

shielded, loop antennas of circular shape are developed for
testing of shielding effectiveness of shielded chamber at low
frequencies ranging between 9 kHz ≤ f ≤ 20 MHz as per IEEE-
Std.299, MIL-Std-285 and NSA 65-6. These antennas are
developed to be used in both for the active and passive modes
to meet the desired dynamic range of frequency. Equivalent
circuit of loop antenna is considered and parameters such as
radiation resistance, loss resistance, efficiency, external
inductive reactance and internal high frequency reactance for
the given configuration are computed and are used to find out
tuned circuit for the desired frequency region. The computed
value of tuned circuit elements are added to the loop antenna
and S11/S21/Smith plots are used to fine tune parameters of the
tuned circuit. The results obtained shows a close agreement
between the designed/achieved values in frequency region/spot
frequency. Against customer requirement, we have designed
loop antennas along with tuning network and achieved desired
dynamic range better than 71dB, 107dB and 115dB for the
required frequencies of 14 KHz, 150 KHz and 1 MHz
respectively.

I INTRODUCTION
Figure1: Schematic diagram showing the electrostatically shielded loop
antenna

Usually, the electrically small loop antennas, also II ELECTRICAL ANALYSIS OF LOOP ANTENNA
defined as magnetic loop antenna, should have a
circumference of λ /10 or less. This loop behaves The impedance of the loop antenna is higher than its
electrically as inductor with small but non-negligible radiation resistance. The optimized matching is obtained
radiation resistance due to its finite size. Considering by nullifying the effect using parallel capacitance. The
the fact that it directly couples to the magnetic field in capacitance is varied according to frequency and is
the near field region so it is used in measurement of realized using a tuning capacitor. The value of the tuning
magnetic shielding (Low impedance field) or resonance capacitor is calculated by analyzing the
effectiveness as per IEEE- Std-299, MIL-Std-285 and equivalent circuit shown in figure 2 of the loop antenna
NSA-65-6[2][3][4]. The schematic of the reception [1].
and noise rejection of the shielded loop antenna is
shown in figure 1.

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 Antenna Test & Measurement Society (ATMS - 14)

Where

f=operating frequency (MHz)

A=Area of loop (square feet)

d=Conductor diameter(inches)

S= Conductor length(feet)

Figure 2: The equivalent circuit for the analysis of the loop antenna.

III ELECTRO-STATICALLY SHIELDING IN

LOOP ANTENNA
In figure 2, the various elements of the equivalent circuit
A shielded loop antenna is less susceptible to nearby
can be described as 1) radiation resistance, RT, 2) loss
electrical interference source. The electrostatic shielding
resistance of loop conductor, RL, 3) the external inductive
afforded by the grounded metallic conduit enclosing the
reactance of loop antenna, XA, 4) internal reactance of
wire coils. It is efficiently isolating the low frequency
loop conductor, Xi. Various components used in the
electrostatic noise from the distant signals to be received.
equivalent circuit are calculated using equation for
analysis of small circular loop [5]. The radiation A shield over a loop antenna will not appreciably
resistance and the loss resistance are calculated using the decrease the amount of magnetic flux that passes through
−8
expression, R R = 3.88 × 10 ( f × A) 2 and
2
the loop when a wave goes by as long as it does not form
a complete turn. A gap I left in the shield so that it does
R L = 9.96 × 10 −4 ( S / d ) × f . The efficiency is not become a shorted turn. Without the gap, the shield
calculated by using the expression, would reduce the magnetic field linking the loop so that
η = RR ( RR + R L ) . The inductance is calculated using no signal could be received by the internal wire with the
gap, alternating current can be induced in the metal shield
the expression,
and voltages will be induced in the internal wire [7].
L = 1.9 × 10 S (7.353 × log10 96S / πd − 6.386) .
−8

The reactance of the inductor is calculated by the

expression, X L = 2πfL × 10 . The internal inductance,
6
IV PASSIVE AND ACTIVE LOOP ANTENNA
Li of the loop for single turn is approximated
(A)Passive loop antenna-
a
by Li ( H ) = ωμ 0 / 2σ , where a, b represents the
ωb Passive loop antenna consists loop of conducting
radius in meter of the loop and of the conducting wire. wire and resonance circuit and for a particular
The conductivity, σ of the material is expressed in S/m frequency when the inductive impedance (XL) is
and the internal high frequency reactance of loop equal to capacitive impedance (XC) the antenna will
be at resonance[6]
conductor, X i = ωLi = 2πfLi . The tuning capacitance,
CT is calculated by the expression 1 / 2πfX L × 10 6

Tuning Capacitance-(Farads) (B)Active loop antenna-

An active loop antenna is an antenna with an integral

low noise amplifier the antenna is usually a small
loop antenna by integral it mean that the antenna
would be completely ineffective without the low
Quality factor- noise amplifier. Active antenna is generally useful
tool in EMI & EMC testing.

Band Width, hertz-

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 Antenna Test & Measurement Society (ATMS - 14)

frequency antenna radiate maximum transmitted power

and reflects minimum power.
V DESIGNING OF LOOP ANTENNA FOR
EMI/EMC TESTING

IEEE-299 Std recommended standard measurement

frequency for testing of magnetic shielding effectiveness is
as following

9 KHz – 16 KHz
140 KHz – 160 KHz
14 MHz – 16 MHz

As per the requirement of our customer we selected some

spot frequency for designing of loop antenna which are as
following-

14 KHz
150 KHz
1 MHz Fig 4 Return loss (S11) parameter

According to MIL Std-285 loop antenna diameter 30 cm and (B) Smith Chart-
low impedance one turn of 6 AWG copper wire is used for
designing loop antenna[3]. Impedance matching at design frequency of 1MHz. to match
an antenna the impedance locus need to be shifted as near as
5. PRACTICAL DESIGNING AND ANALYSIS possible to center of the smith chart(matching point) a very
OF LOOP ANTENNA AT 1 MHz low return loss at resonant frequency as can be observed
impedance matching point is very close to the center of the
According to all mathematical analysis we have designed a smith chart.
loop antenna which consist a single turn of copper wire of The impedance of loop antenna at 1 MHz is 50.378 Ω
6AWG and loop antenna diameter is 30 centimeter and loop which is ideally matched by using tuning circuit as shown in
antenna is shielded by low resistance copper tube. figure.
Now we connect already calculated resonance circuit for 1
MHz frequency in parallel with loop antenna. Now we
analyze this practically by using vector network analyzer
(VNA).

Fig 5 Smith Chart

Fig. 3 Practically designing and analysis of loop antenna
(C) Voltage standing wave ratio(VSWR)-
(A) Return loss of loop antenna at 1 MHz- The voltage standing wave ratio(VSWR) for small circular
loop antenna at 1 MHz is 1.0167 which indicates the loop
We can see that the return loss (S11) parameter at 1MHz antenna is properly matched. Because is VSWR is
in VNA is -55.867 db which is shown in figure at this approximately 1 the antenna is ideally matched because

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 Antenna Test & Measurement Society (ATMS - 14)

VSWR is a measurement of impedance mismatch. As can be 71dB for 14 KHz , 107 dB for 150 KHz and 115 dB for 1
observed from the graph the VSWR obtained is 1.0167:1 MHz respectively and following IEEE 299.Std procedure
this considered good value as the level of mismatch is not for testing shielding effectiveness at low frequencies
very high as shown in figure. magnetic field.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors gratefully acknowledge the support received from
Mr. Ajay Soni and Mr. Kalpesh N Raval during the entire
phase of development.

REFERENCES

[1] C.A.Balanis, Antenna Theory,2nd Ed.,John wiley &

sons,inc.,New York.1982.

[2] IEEE Standard 299 “method for measuring the effectiveness

of electromagnetic shielding enclosures”.2007.

Fig.6 Voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) [3] MIL-STD-285, Military standard: attenuation measurements
for enclosures, electromagnetic shielding, for electronic test
purposes, method of (25 jun 1956).

TABLE I. Electrical specification of active loop antenna [4] NSA-65-6, National  security  agency  specification  for 
which is designed for magnetic shielding effectiveness shielded enclosures. 
testing-
[5] The American Radio Relay League (1988). "Small High
Specification Value
Efficiency Loop Antennas for Transmitting". The ARRL Antenna
Frequency minimum 9 KHz Handbook. In (15th ed.). (pp. 5-14). Table 4.
Frequency maximum 20 KHz
1 dB comp point +5dBm [6] Kraus, John D. (1984). "The Small Loop Antenna". In
Connectors BNC(F) McGraw-Hill (3rd ed.). Electromagnetics. (pp. 665-666).
Dynamic range 115 dB @ 1 MHz
107 dB @ 150 KHz
77 dB @ 14 KHz [7] LA-400 manual of aorusa characteristics of shielded loop
Impedance (Nominal) 50 ohm antenna. Page no.7.
Pattern type Omni directional
Power required 12 Vdc [8] MIL-STD-461, "Requirements for the control of
6. We have also design loop antenna tuning circuits electromagnetic interference characteristics of subsystems and
for 14 KHz and 150 KHz which were properly equipment"
calculated and analyze.

7. APPLICATIONS OF LOOP ANTENNA

We have made a shielded anechoic chamber (9.6m ×

4.88m × 3.66m) as per our customer requirement for the
purpose of electronic equipment testing according to
MIL Std.461E[8]. The loop antenna has been designed
for the testing of magnetic shielding effectiveness at 14
KHz, 150 KHz and 1 MHz. The designated magnetic
shielding effectiveness at 14 KHz, 150 KHz and 1 MHz
are 50 dB, 80 dB, 100 dB respectively while we achieved
minimum 71.06 dB, 96.66 dB, 119.38 dB respectively.

CONCLUSION

The small sized (diameter~0.3m) electro-statically

shielded, loop antenna of circular shape are developed
with tuning circuit for testing of shielding effectiveness of
shielded chamber at 14KHz, 150KHz, 1MHz, and
achieved desired dynamic range which is greater than

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