Radiating Systems

IIT Bombay - EE 609

Lecture-3 (2023)
Loop, Slot and Helical Antennas
Kushal R. Tuckley
kushal@ee.iitb.ac.in (Cell: +91 9869069155) 1
 Introduction to the Loop Antennas
Z • Loop antennas are made of conducting elements in shape of ellipse, rectangle,
Eф triangular or any closed shape
Hθ • The conducting element could be solid or hollow
θ • These shapes could be formed in air, around dielectric or around ferrite material.
Loop Antenna
Dia 2a
(Square/ Circle)
• They generally have multiple turns of the conductors
Y
• A small electric loop is equivalent to a small magnetic dipole with current Im (say)
ф

Radiation patterns of loop

antennas of different diameters
with uniform currents

Directivity (D)= 0.67(C/λ)

Reproduced from: Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar: Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book. Slides 5.3
2
 Radiation Resistance of the Loop Antennas
4
𝐶 Rr - is the Radiation Resistance
Single Turn Small Loop 𝑅𝑟 = 20π2
λ C - Circumference = 2π a
4
N turn Small Loop 𝐶
22𝑁 22 𝑐
4
𝑅𝑅𝑟𝑟 = 20π
= 20π 𝑁 λ N - Number of turns
λ
μ0 – Permeability of free space
Large loop antenna 𝐶 μce – Permeability of ferrite
𝑅𝑟 = 60π2 𝑁 2
λ
4 2 μcer – Relative Permeability of ferrite
𝐶 μ𝑐𝑒
N turn Small Loop on Ferrite 𝑅𝑟𝑓 = 20π2 𝑁 2 C< λ→ Small Loop, C >3λ → Large Loop
λ μ0
(Term in the bracket, often used)

2 2
For a circular loop, substituting ‘c’ in terms of 2 2 𝐶 4 2 𝐴π 𝑁𝐴 2
A, we get Expression by Krauss and Balanis,. 𝑅𝑟 = 20π 𝑁 =20 π2 𝑁2 =320 π4
λ λ2 λ2

These are empirical and expressions with simplistic assumptions. The accurate computations/ simulations show that
the radiation resistance (hence the directivity) value shows variations around the curve indicated by the expressions.
(See Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar: Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book. Slides 5.5 and 5.7)
3
 Loop Antenna: Variations in Rr and D

Most applications use ‘small loop’ Though the directivity values are high, the pattern
The radiation resistance is very low. does not show single main lobe. Hence large loop
Multiple turns are used to increase Rr to ≈ 50 Ω cannot be used as a directive antenna
4
Reproduced images from slides 5.5 and 5.7 from Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar: Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book.
Comparison of Directivities and Radiation
Resistances of Different Types of Antennas

Typical
Typical
Antenna Type Directivity
Directivity
(dB)
Short Dipole Antenna 1.5 1.76
Half-Wave Dipole
1.64 2.15
Antenna
Patch (Microstrip)
3.2-6.3 5-8
Antenna
Horn Antenna 10-100 10-20
Dish Antenna 10-10,000 10-40
Source : https://www.antenna-theory.com/basics/directivity.php

24-10-2023 5
 Applications of Loop Antennas

Reproduced images from slides 5.5 and 5.7

from Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant rfid reader gate using loop antenna MFJ-1886X Loop Receiving 0.5 TO 30 MHz
Kumar: Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book. images - Bing images
MFJ-1886X Loop Receiving .5 TO 30 MHZ MFJ
Antennas at £379.95 | Ham Radio

6
 Direction Finding Using Loop Antennas

codar rx antennas for direction

finding images - Bing images
Ionosonde Antenna
https://www.flight-mechanic.com/radio-
navigation-automatic-direction-finder-adf-
and-radio-magnetic-indicator-rmi/ 7
 Slot Antennas
Slot antennas are a type of antennas which are formed by removing certain portion from metallic
surface and feeding EM signals using a transmission line.
• They are thought as dual (or complementary) versions of standard antenna types
• Popularly used in the frequency band of 300 MHz to 30 GHz

Feed by two wire

Complementary dipole

Feed by
waveguide,
Feed by a microstrip line
Complement
Complementary Patch antenna
ary dipole
electrical or
magnetic

8
 Computation of Impedance of Slotted Antennas
The product of the
Impedances of slotted
antenna and its
complementary dipole is
𝜂02
𝑍𝑠 × 𝑍𝑑 = 4
Where, 𝑍𝑠 × 𝑍𝑑

Computing the Impedance of the slot

The radiation pattern of the slot is identical
(376.7)2
𝑍𝑠 × 𝑍𝑑 = = 35475.7225 in shape to that of the dipole (or the
4
35475.7225 complementary element)except that the E
𝑍𝑠 =
𝑍𝑑 and H-fields are interchanged
35475.7225
𝑍𝑠 =
(73 − 𝐽42.5) 𝐸θ𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑡 = 𝐻θ𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙 𝐸ϕ𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑡 = 𝐻ϕ𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙
2589727.7425 + 1507718.20625
𝑍𝑠 = 𝐸θ𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙 𝐸ϕ𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙
7135.25
𝑍𝑠 ≈362.95+j 211.31 Ω 𝐻θ𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑡 = − 𝐻ϕ𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑡 = −
𝜂02 𝜂02
9
 Feeding a Slot and Cavity Backed Slot Antenna
Slot Central conductor to
far side of the slot

Outer conductor
Insight on Slot Antennas
to near side of
the slot 1. Effective slot length, ‘l1’ is approximately equal to λ/2
Connector Coaxial
2. The impedance is zero at edges and very high at the centre
Feed line 3. The slots are fed at offset, ‘s’ to get appropriate impedance
Feeding slot antenna by a co-axial line 4. The cavity reduces the back-lobe of radiation pattern
5. The beam could be made sharper by forming an array

Slot
Microstrip Performance Dependence on parameters
Feed line
1. Increase in slot length (l1) reduces frequency
Cavity
2. Increased slot width (W1) Increases Bandwidth
3. Feed line length (l2) increase, decreases the frequency and
Metallic Base lowers the impedance
Connector
4. Increase in Feed-line width (W2) lowers the impedance
Cavity backed slot antenna 5. Increase in offset length (s) decreases resonance frequency
& rotates the impedance locus “clockwise on smith chart
The slot resonates at wavelength given by Plan and Elevation of Cavity
l1(Length)+W1(Width) ≈ 0.52λResonance backed slot antenna

10
Source: Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar: Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book, slides 5.15 to 5.21
 Helical Antenna Products
Helical antenna was invented by Kraus in 1946
D

S
L
d
A=nS

433 MHz SMA

Quadrifilar Helix
Internal
Construction Conical Helical Antenna, GSM Quad Band
RHCP, 1.7 - 2.7 GHz, 4 dBiC
5.8 GHz, 300MHz, 12dBiC
L S
𝑆 𝑆
C=πD 𝐿= 𝑆2 + 𝐶2 α= 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
α π𝐷 𝐶
11
 Size and
Frequency of
operation
Helical Antennas

Ham radio blog by OZ1BXM: Lower

SWR on Helix13 from Wimo

433MHz Helical Antenna - Bing images

λ/4 Helical Antennas Used in Automation of

Lighthouses, K.Tuckley, SAMEER

Conical (or Higher order) modes

exist. However, they are not of
Popular Modes
much practical significance
of Operation

Axial (or Beam) mode

‘end-fire direction’ circular Normal mode circularly polarized,
polarized, (C≈λ and S≈λ/4) dimensions of helix are small 12
compared to the wavelength.
Design Template (Mode Chart) for Helical Antennas

Axial Mode Normal Mode

Reproduced from: Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant

Kumar: Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book. Slide 14.4

The conductor thickness is typically Between 0.003 λ to

0.06λ and has nominal effect on the performance
Helical antenna Design Template John Krauss - Bing images
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 Ground Plane and Support Structure for Helical Antennas

Dgrmin=3/4 λ
Cupped
structures
are used for
supressing
the back-lobe

Dgr>0.75 λ Cupped Ground

14
Impedance Matching the Axial Mode Helical Antenna
Condition for Axial Mode➔ 0.8 < Normalized Circumference (Cλ)<1.2

Other restrictions
Axial Feed 12⁰ < α < 14⁰ and n ≥ 4 Peripheral Feed
R (Ω)= 140 Cλ R (Ω)= 150/ (Cλ)0.5

Impedance Matching ( to 50 Ω) techniques

𝑤
ℎ= Micro-stripline
Flattened Tubing 377Τ 𝜖𝑟 𝑍0 − 2 impedance at helix
Conductor width (w) Thickness separator end ≈ 150Ω
Thickness (h)
And at connector end
Generally used ≈ 50Ω
Feed
for Axial feed
Connector

15
 Radiation Pattern in Axial Mode

----Vertically Polarized, Horizontally Polarized Effect of number of turns for n=10,8,6,4,2 and α=12.2
Behaves as circularly polarized for≈ 0.85 < Cλ< 1.22

Reproduced from: Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar: 16

Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book. Slide 14.11, 14.12
 Mathematical Expressions for Helical Antennas
We have seen that the directivity is increased by adding helical turns. A
representative case of a helix with α= 12⁰, n=7 and Cλ= 0.95
52 115
𝐻𝑃𝐵𝑊 𝑑𝑒𝑔 ≈ 𝐵𝑊𝐹𝑁 𝑑𝑒𝑔 ≈
𝐶λ 𝑛𝑆λ 𝐶λ 𝑛𝑆λ
Directivity ≈ 4π/(dθdф (rad)) ≈ 41253/HPBW (deg)2 (assuming dθ=dф)

For large/ array antennas D= 32400/HPBW (deg)2 *

Substituting HPBW expression,
BWFN
HPBW Directivity ≈ 4π/(dθdф (rad)) ≈12𝐶λ2 𝑛𝑆λ Gain = η X Directivity: Typically, 0.55< η< 0.7
Designing Example:
Axial Mode helical antenna with directivity of 20 dB =100
For Axial Mode, 0.8 < Cλ< 1.2 → Cλ = 1.0 (say)
and 12⁰ < α < 14⁰ → α = 13 ⁰
Source: Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar: Antennas Calculate, S λ= Cλ tan α → 0.23
Concept and Design- e-Book. Slide 14.11, 14.15
Since Directivity( D) = 12𝐶λ2 𝑛𝑆λ , n= 36.23 (≈36)
Source*: 1. https://testbook.com/question-answer/the-beam-width-
and-the-directivity-of-an-antenna-a--60257545b41f5c0b002123e3, 17
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directivity
 Helical Antenna Arrays
Multiple helical antennas could be used in the array configuration to get similar directivity

Designing Example: (option 1) Designing Example: (option 2)

4 axial Mode antennas of 9 turns (Instead of a 36 turn antenna)
Directivity of each ‘9 turn-antenna’ will be 100/4=25
(Directivity is linearly dependent on ‘n’)
Computing the aperture for individual helical antenna
using ‘A=Dλ2/4π’→ A= 1.989 λ2 (1.41λ X 1.41λ) (Grating lobes!)
9 axial Mode antennas of 4 turns each
Directivity of each ‘4 turn-antenna’ will be 100/9=11.11
using ‘A=Dλ2/4π’→ A= 0,8841 λ2 (0.94λ X 0.94λ)
This configuration does not have grating lobe when
operated with a single broadside beam

0.94λ
1.41λ
0.94λ

1.41λ

18
Antenna Configurations with Helix as a Parasitic Element

Reproduced from: Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar:

19
Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book. Slide 14.23
 Normal Mode Helical Antennas (NMHA)
Radiation Condition for generating ‘circular polarization’. Useful when
3-D Pattern Helical
Cross section Antenna orientation of the gadget is not known/ can not be ensured
Eθ

Eф
Axial Ratio (AR) = 𝐸θ / 𝐸ф = 2Sλ/C2 = 2 Sλ/Cλ2
For AR=1→ 𝐶λ = 2𝑆λ

Design Example for a NMHA with Infinite Ground Plane

1. Total Wire Length≈ λ/4 (Practically 10% more with large ground plane)
2. Helix antenna without a ground plane can be approximated as a N turn Loop Antenna.
4
2 2 𝐶
𝑅𝑟 = 20π 𝑁 (Lect-3 slide 3) ≈ 0.0189. very low! So terminated to ground.
λ
This helical element is connected to 377 (space impedance) to
Now Therefore, at point with appropriate ration to so as to match the free space impedance
of 377is transformed to 40-60 Ω.
This arrangement works like an ‘autotransformer’.

Axial Ratio (AR)= 2 Sλ/Cλ2 = 2 X 0.01/ (0.04)2= 12.5= 21.94 dB

The antenna with appropriate ground plane offers near matching impedance
Source: Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar: Antennas 20
Concept and Design- e-Book. Slide 14.25
Design Example of NMHA with Small Circular Ground Plane

Reproduced from: Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar:

Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book. Slide 14.26, 14.27 21
Effect of Ground Plane Size on Performance of NMHA
Ground Plane radius varied from λ/30 to λ/30

Ground Plane
Diameter (dg)

Smaller ground plane, higher frequency

Smaller ground plane, impedance is more

capacitive or curve gets lower on the Smith Chart
Reproduced from: Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar:
22
Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book. Slide 14.28
 Effect of Wire Radius on Performance of NMHA
Wire radius varied from λ/120 to λ/80: RGr= λ/80

Wire radius (d/2)

Smaller wire radius, Lower frequency

Smaller wire radius Lower Bandwidth

Does not decrease monotonically.
Smaller wire radius impedance more inductive,
or curve gets higher on the Smith Chart
Reproduced from: Girish Kumar, Rinkee Gupta, Hemant Kumar:
Antennas Concept and Design- e-Book. Slide 14.29, 14.30 23
Questions?

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