Log-Periodic

Antenna
Content:
Introduction:
Configuration of LP Antenna:
 A typical log-periodic antenna configuration is
shown in Figure. It consists of two coplanar
arms.

 The pattern is unidirectional toward the apex

of the cone formed by the two arms, and it is
linearly polarized.

 Although the patterns of this and other log-

periodic structures are not completely frequency
independent, the amplitude variations of certain
designs are very slight. Thus practically they are
frequency independent.
Log-Periodic Dipole Array (LPDA):
Antenna Design:  In LPDA all the dipoles are active elements,
the longest dipole works as reflector and
successive dipoles act as directors.

 The Fig.1 shows the structure of log

periodic dipole array antenna. This antenna is
directive and shows end fire radiation pattern.

 In LPDA, from longest dipole to shortest

dipole, the length, width and spacing between
the dipoles decreases gradually.

 The spacing of the dipoles is the

logarithmic function of frequency represented
by spacing factor.

S represents the spacing between the

dipoles, L is the length of dipoles and the
radiation pattern is along Y-axis.
Antenna Design (contd.):
 Highest and lowest frequency value is responsible
for length of the longest and shortest dipole
respectively.
 LPDA antenna is characterized with the active
region and inactive region. The inactive part is also
called as passive region.
The elements near the half wave length dipole will
radiate so the region where radiating elements are
present is called as active region.
The shortest elements are too capacitive to
radiate properly. And the dipoles longer than the
half wavelength dipole will also not radiate properly.
So the longer and shorter dipoles than the half
wavelength dipoles are included in inactive region.
 The longest element is active at the antenna’s
lowest usable frequency where it acts as a half
wave dipole. As the frequency shifts upward, the
active region shifts forward. The upper frequency
limit of the antenna is a function of the shortest
elements.
Design Parameters:
Carrels Graph: Carrels graph as shown in Fig. plays important
role in calculation of the log periodic antenna
dimensions.

It shows dB lines which are from 6dB to 10.5dB.

Scaling factor values are present on X-axis and the
spacing factor values are present on Y-axis. The
optimum line cuts the dB line at particular point and
at that point the value of scaling and spacing factor
is noted.

During calculations, a gain value is assumed and

according to that value the scaling and spacing
factors are obtained from carrels graph.

At particular gain line, and at particular point

where optimum line cuts the gain line, the value of
scaling and spacing factor according to that point is
decided. Hence from these parameters, the
dimensions of log periodic antenna are calculated.
Construction & Working:
 While only one element of the Yagi–Uda array is directly
energized by the feed line, while the others operate in a
parasitic mode, all the elements of the log-periodic array
are connected.

The currents in the elements of Fig (b) have the same

phase relationship as the terminal phases. If in addition
the elements are closely spaced, the phase progression of
the currents is to the right. This produces an end-fire
beam in the direction of the longer elements and
interference effects to the pattern result.

 It was recognized that by mechanically crisscrossing or

transposing the feed between adjacent elements, as
shown in Fig.(c), a 180◦ phase is added to the terminal of
each element.
Simulation Results:

 The Fig.5 shows the return loss of antenna operating from 800MHz to 6GHz. For whole wideband from
800MHz to 6GHz, the return loss is below -10dB. Return loss shows how well the transmission lines or devices
are matched.

The VSWR of antenna is shown in Fig.6. The obtained VSWR is below 2 for whole bandwidth from 800MHz to
6GHz. If VSWR is not below 2, there is mismatch between the transmission line impedance and antenna
impedance, the wave gets reflected from destination end to source end. The incident wave gets mixed with
reflected wave and voltage standing wave is created. Ideally VSWR should be 1. The obtained VSWR is accurate
and below 2.
Gain & Radiation Pattern:

 For 880MHz, the radiation pattern is shown in Fig.8. The red part indicates the amount of power and its
direction of radiation. Directivity and gain of antenna at 880MHz is shown in Fig.9 and Fig.10 respectively.
880MHz frequency is used for CDMA application.

Gain of antenna shows how directive the antenna is. At 1.84GHz, the gain is 4.17 at 2.14GHz, the gain is
4.08 at 2.35GHz gain is 4.53 and at 2.45GHz gain is 4.51
Pros, Cons and Applications:
Conclusion:
Thank You