Broadband Antennas

Classification of Antennas
Wire-Type Antennas Aperture-Type Antennas
Dipoles Horn and open waveguide
Monopoles Reflector antennas
Biconical antennas Slot antennas
Loop antennas Micro-strip antennas
Helical antennas
Linearly polarized antennas Circularly polarized antennas
Element antennas Antenna array
Narrow-band Broad-band
Transmitting Receiving
 Introduction
• An antenna with wide bandwidth is referred to as a broadband
antenna.
• Bandwidth is computed in two ways:

• Where, fu and fl are the upper and lower frequencies of operation for
which satisfactory performance is obtained.
• Fc is the center frequency.
 Introduction
Note:
• The bandwidth of narrow band antenna is usually expressed as a
percentage using equation 1,
• whereas wideband antenna are quoted as a ratio using equation 2.
• fu and fl are determined by the VSWR = 2 points.

"If the impendence and pattern of an antenna do not change

significantly over about an octave (fu/ fl =2) or more, it will classified
as a broadband antenna".
 Introduction
• Broadband antennas usually require structures that do not
change abruptly in its physical dimensions, but instead
utilize materials with smooth boundaries.

• Smooth physical structures tend to produce patterns and

input impedance that also change smoothly with frequency.
 Frequency Independent Antenna
• If you think about the Half-Wavelength Dipole Antenna, the antenna
design is specified by the length - the length should be equal to a
half-wavelength at the frequency of interest.
• Hence, if you want your antenna to radiate at 300 MHz (1 wavelength
at 300 MHz = 1 meter), you would make the antenna 0.5 meters long.
• Now, this is fine for 300 MHz - but what if you also want the antenna
to radiate well at 200 and 400MHz?
• Because at 200 MHz the 0.5 meter antenna is too short (wavelength
at 200 MHz = 1.5 meters) and at 400 MHz the 0.5 meter antenna is
too long (wavelength at 400 MHz = 0.75 meters), we won't get
efficient radiation at these frequencies.
 Frequency Independent Antenna
• You may note that one problem with the above Half-Wavelength
antenna design is that the design depends solely on length, which will
mean much different things in terms of wavelengths at different
frequencies.

• What if instead, we could design an antenna that was completely

specified by Angles instead of Lengths?

• Angles do not depend on distance - and hence don't depend on

wavelength, so if we could design such an antenna it would be
frequency independent.
 Frequency Independent Antenna
• An antenna with a bandwidth of about 10:1 or more is referred to a
frequency independent antenna.
• The purest form of a frequency independent antenna has constant
pattern impedance, polarization and phase center with frequency.
• A distinguishing feature of frequency independent antennas is their
self scaling behavior.
• Most radiation takes place from that portion of the antenna where its
width is a half wavelength or the circumference is one wavelength.
• This region is called as the active region.
 Frequency Independent Antenna
• Radiation is maximum perpendicular to the plane of the structure.
• As frequency decreases, the active region moves to a larger portion of
the antenna, where the width is a half wavelength.
• [V. H. Rumsey, 1957] Scaling characteristics of antenna model
measurement indicate that if the shape of the antenna were
completely specified by angle. Its performance would have to be
independent of frequency.
• It was showed by Rumsey that this requirement would be fulfilled by
antenna whose equation in spherical co-ordinates is of the form:

• Where a : Rate of expansion and Ø0 : Orientation.

Frequency Independent Antenna
 Analysis of frequency independent
antennas
• Let the surface of frequency independent antenna is described by a
curve:

• r: distance of the surface or edge

• If the antenna is to be scaled to a frequency that is K times lower than
the original frequency, the antenna's physical surface must be made K
times greater to maintain the same electrical dimensions.
• The new surface is described by:

• The new and old surface is identical; that is, not only are they similar
but they are also congruent (if both surfaces are infinite).
 Analysis of frequency independent
antennas
• Congruence can be established only by rotation in Ø.
• For the second structure to achieve congruence with the first, it must
be rotated by angle C, so that

• Note: C depends on K but neither depends on  or  .

• Physical congruence (coinciding exactly when superimposed) implies
that the origin antenna electrically would behave the same at both
frequencies.
 Analysis of frequency independent
antennas
• To obtain the functional representation of F( , ) :
 Analysis of frequency independent
antennas
• To obtain the functional representation of F( , ) :

or

• Since the left side equation is independent of  and  , a general

solution for the surface r  F( , ) of the antenna is

Where,
f ( ) : arbitrary function.
 Spiral Antenna

Ref: www.antenna-theory.com
 Spiral Antenna

Ref: www.antenna-theory.com
 Spiral Antenna
• Spiral antennas belong to the class of "frequency independent"
antennas; these antennas are characterized as having a very large
bandwidth.
• The fractional Bandwidth can be as high as 30:1.
• This means that if the lower frequency is 1 GHz, the antenna would still
be efficient at 30 GHz, and every frequency in between.
• Spiral antennas are usually circularly polarized.
• The spiral antenna's radiation pattern typically has a peak radiation
direction perpendicular to the plane of the spiral (broadside radiation).
• The Half-Power Beam width (HPBW) is approximately 70-90 degrees.

Ref: www.antenna-theory.com
 Spiral Antenna
• Spiral antennas are widely used in the defense industry for sensing
applications, where very wideband antennas that do not take up much
space are needed.
• Spiral antenna arrays are used in military aircraft in the 1-18 GHz range.
Other applications of spiral antennas include GPS, where it is
advantageous to have RHCP (right hand circularly polarized) antennas.

Ref: www.antenna-theory.com
 The Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna
• In 1954, Edwin Turnur started messing with a dipole antenna.
• Instead of leaving the arms straight, he wrapped them around each
other, forming a spiral.
• This was the beginning of the spiral antenna.
• We can define the arms of a spiral antenna using simple polar
coordinates and polar functions.
• The log-periodic spiral antenna, also known as the equiangular spiral
antenna, has each arm defined by the polar function:

Ref: www.antenna-theory.com
 The Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna
• R0 is a constant that controls the initial radius of the spiral antenna.
• The parameter a controls the rate at which the spiral antenna flares or
grows as it turns.
• Equation states that the spiral antenna radius grows exponentially as it
turns.

Ref: www.antenna-theory.com
 The Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna
• The planar spiral antenna will have peak radiation directions into and
out of the screen (broadside to the plane of the spiral, in both the front
and the back).
• The spiral antenna will radiate Right Hand Circularly Polarized (RHCP)
fields out of the screen, and Left Hand Circularly Polarized (LHCP) fields
into the screen.
• The sense of the circularly polarized fields can be determined by placing
your thumb in the direction of the fields, and curling your fingers in the
direction of the spiral antenna (If your fingers curl the right way using
your right hand, then it is RHCP. Otherwise, it is LHCP).
 The Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna
• Total Length of the Spiral, or the outer radius (Rspiral) - This determines
the lowest frequency of operation for the spiral antenna. The lowest
operating frequency of the spiral antenna is commonly approximated to
occur when the wavelength is equal to the circumference of the spiral:

• The Flare Rate (a) - The rate at which the spiral grows with angle is the
flare rate. If it is too large, the spiral is tightly wrapped around itself. In
this case, it will behave more like a capacitor, with closely coupled
conductors, giving poor radiation. If the flare rate is too small, the spiral
acts more like a dipole as it doesn't wrap around itself. A commonly
used value is a = 0.22.
 The Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna
• Feed Structure - The feed must be controlled with a balun so that the
spiral has balanced currents on either arm.
• A commonly used balun for spiral antennas is the infinite balun. More
importantly, the feed structure determines the high end of the operating
band.
• The highest frequency in the spiral antenna's operating band occurs
when the innermost radius of the spiral (i.e. where the spiral starts after
the feed structure) is equal to lambda/4 .
 The Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna
• Number of Turns (N) - The number of turns of the spiral is also a design
parameter.
• Experimentally, it is found that spirals with at least one-half turn up to 3
turns work well, with 1.5 turns being a good number.
• Radiation occurs from the spiral antenna when the currents on the
spiral's arms are in phase.
• As the spiral winds outward from the center, there will exist some region
for each frequency (wavelength) where the currents add constructively
and produce radiation.
• This radiation removes energy from the electric current on the spiral
antenna; as a result, the magnitude of the current dies off with distance
from the spiral antenna.
 The Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna
• The Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna and it's dual surface are identical.
• This unique property means has a nice consequence.
• Since the impedance of two antennas that are identically shaped must
also be identical, we can obtain the impedance from Babinet's principle:
 The Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna
• The radiation pattern of the Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna is
approximately given by:

• This pattern has two equal radiation peaks, both broadside to the plane
of the spiral antenna (which lies in the z=0 plane, or x-y plane).
• One peak is above the planar spiral antenna and the other is below.
• The Spiral Antenna has circular polarization over a wide beam width,
often for angular regions as wide as θ <= 700 angles of circular
polarization for spiral antenna.
• This is a very broad beam width for circular polarization; this is one of
the features that makes spiral antennas very useful.
 The Bow-Tie Antenna
• As a simple (and non-manufacturable) infinitely wideband antenna,
let's look at an infinite bow-tie antenna:
 The Bow-Tie Antenna
• In figure, we have an antenna that is specified solely by the angle
between the two metal pieces, D.
• The antenna feed (where the radio positive and negative terminals
connect to the antenna) is at the center of the antenna.
• Our antenna here is infinitely long in both directions, so that
wavelength never comes into the equation.
• As a result, this antenna would theoretically have an infinite
bandwidth, because if it works at one frequency (any frequency), it
must work at ALL frequencies, because the antenna looks the same
at all wavelengths.
 The Bow-Tie Antenna
• In terms of making a real antenna, we can take the simple approach
and just clip it after some distance and seeing what happens.
• The result is the bow-tie antenna (also known as a butterfly
antenna, or a biconical antenna):
The Bow-Tie Antenna
 The Bow-Tie Antenna
• This antenna will have a similar radiation pattern to the dipole
antenna, and will have vertical polarization.
• L=76.5mm Bow Tie antenna with width W=36mm and angle equal to
130 degrees.
• The bow tie can be considered a simplified version of the Log-
Periodic Antenna.
 Log Periodic Antenna
• It was noted that wideband antennas are often defined by angles
instead of lengths, so that they are more frequency independent
(because angles are independent of wavelength for any frequency).
• As an alternative to this, what if the antennas had a self-similar
structure, so that the properties at some frequency f2=k*f1 were the
same as at the first frequency f1 (and k is some constant greater than
1).
• Suppose we design an antenna system that works at some frequency
f_n, where there are wires of length L_(n-1), L_n, L_(n+1), ... each
separated by a set of distances d_(n-1), d_n, d_(n+1):
Log Periodic Antenna

Planer and wire logarithmically periodic Antennas

 Log Periodic Antenna
• This structure is characterized by the geometric ratio,

• And the width of the antenna slot

• If two frequency f1 and f2 are one period apart, then

 Log Periodic Antenna

Planer and wire trapezoidal toothed log-periodic Antennas

 Log Periodic Antenna
• Directive antennas like the Yagi provide gain and directivity but their
bandwidth is limited.
• A Log Periodic antenna is an antenna having a structure geometry
such that its impedance and radiation characteristics repeat
periodically as the logarithm of frequency.
• In actual practice, the variation over the frequency band of
operation is minor, and the log-periodic antennas are usually
considered to be frequency independent antennas.
• Frequency range: The frequency range, in which the log-periodic
antennas operate is around 30 MHz to 3GHz which belong to the
VHF and UHF bands.
Log periodic antenna types & variants
• The log periodic antenna was initially developed by Dwight E. Isbell,
Raymond DuHamel who published a paper in 1957 later additional
variants were made by Paul Mayes.
• Log periodic dipole array, LPDA
• Slot log periodic
• Zig zag log periodic array
• Trapezoidal log periodic
• V log periodic
• The type that is most widely used is the log periodic dipole array,
LPDA.
Self-Complimentary Log Periodic
 Log Periodic Antenna
Advantages
• The antenna design is compact.
• Gain and radiation pattern are varied according to the requirements.

Disadvantages
• Installation cost is high.

Applications
• Used for HF communications.
• Used for particular sort of TV receptions.
• Used for all round monitoring in higher frequency bands.
Log Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA)
Log Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA)
Log Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA)
 Log Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA)
• The log periodic dipole array consists of a number of dipole
elements. These progressively reduce in size from the back to the
front – the direction of maximum radiation is from the smaller front.
• Each dipole element of the LPDA is fed, but the phase is reversed
between adjacent dipole elements – this ensures that the signal
phasing is correct between the different elements.
• It also means that a feeder is required along the length of the
antenna. Normally this is arranged so that it forms part of the
mechanical structure of the array.
Log Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA)
Log Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA)
Log Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA)
Log Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA)
 Log Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA)
• HF communications: Log periodic antenna arrays are often used for diplomatic
traffic on the HF bands. Log periodic antennas perform well because embassies and
other similar users will need to operate over a wide selection of frequencies in the HF
bands, and it is often only feasible to have one antenna.
• UHF Terrestrial TV: The log periodic antenna is sometimes used for UHF
terrestrial television reception.
• EMC measurements: Testing requires frequency scans to be undertaken over wide
bands of frequencies. When testing for radiated emissions an antenna that is able to
provide a flat response over a wide band of frequencies is needed. The log periodic is
able to offer the performance required and is widely used in this form of application.
• Other applications: Any applications where directivity and a wide bandwidth are
needed are ideal applications for this form of RF antenna design.
THANKS….