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4. Broadband Antennas
4.1 Introduction
The advent of broadband system in wireless communication area has demanded the
design of antennas that must operate effectively over a wide range of frequencies. An antenna
with wide bandwidth is referred to as a broadband antenna. But the question is, wide bandwidth
mean how much bandwidth? The term "broadband" is a relative measure of bandwidth and
varies with the circumstances.
fu fl
(1) B 100 % (4.1)
fc
where f u and f u are the upper and lower frequencies of operation for which satisfactory
performance is obtained.
fu
(2) B (4.2)
fl
Note:
The bandwidth of narrow band antenna is usually expressed as a percentage using equation (4.1),
whereas wideband antenna are quoted as a ratio using equation (4.2).
fu and fl are determined by the VSWR = 2 points.
Various categories of antennas come under the preview of broadband antenna viz.,
travelling wave antenna, helical antennas, biconical antenna, frequency-independent antenna,
odic antennas etc. In thiss chapter, wee will focus on two majoor varieties oof antennas, such
log-perio
as, (i) frequency-in
fr dependent antennas
a an
nd (ii) log-pperiodic anttennas withh a minimum m of
analyticaal formulatio
ons.
4.2 Frequency-In
ndependen
nt Antenna
as
An
A antenna with a ban ndwidth of about 10:1 or more iis referred to a frequeency-
independ
dent antennaa. The purestt form of a frequency
f inndependent aantenna has constant paattern,
impedancce, polarizattion, and phaase center wiith frequencyy.
A distinguishhing feature of
o frequencyy-independennt antennas is their self--scaling behaavior.
Most rad diation takess place from
m that portioon of the frrequency-inddependent antenna wherre its
width is a half-wavelength or the circumfereence is one w wavelength.. This regioon is called aas the
active reegion. Radiattion is maxiimum perpendicular to tthe plane off the structuure. As frequuency
decreasess, the active region movves to a larger portion oof the antennna, where thee width is a half-
waveleng gth.
It was sh
howed by Ru umsey that this
t requirem
ment would bbe fulfilled bby antenna w
whose equatiion in
sphericall co-ordinatees is of the fo
orm:
r ea ( 0 ) f ( ) (4.3)
Frequency-independent antennas can be divided into two types: spiral antennas and log-periodic
antennas.
r F ( , )
[Assume that the antenna has both terminals close to the origin an each is symmetrically
disposed along the 0 , - axis]
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.
r / KF ( , )
The new and old surface is identical; that is, not only are they similar but they are also congruent
(if both surfaces are infinite).
For the second structure to achieve congruence with the first, it must be rotated by angle C, so
that
KF ( , ) F ( , C )
Physical congruence (coinciding exactly when superimposed) implies that the origin antenna
electrically would behave the same at both frequencies.
Note: However the radiation pattern will be rotated azimuthally an angle C.
d dK
[ KF ( , )] F ( , ) [ F ( , C )]
dC dC C
(4.4)
[ F ( , C )]
( C )
d F ( , )
[ KF ( , )] K [ F ( , C )]
d
(4.5)
[ F ( , C )]
( C )
dK F ( , )
F ( , ) K (4.6)
dC
1 dK 1 r
or [using r F ( , ) ] (4.7)
K dC r
Since the left side equation (4.7) is independent of and , a general solution for the surface
r F ( , ) of the antenna is
r F ( , ) ea f ( )
1 dK
where a
K dC
f ( ) : arbitrary function.
Thus for any antenna to have frequency independent characteristics, its surface must be
described by the above equation. For this specification of f ( ) / derivative of f ( ) is required.