School on Digital and Multimedia Communications Using Terrestrial and Satellite Radio Links

The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics ICTP Trieste (Italy) 12 February – 2 March 2001

Antenna Fundamentals (4)

R. Struzak
ryszard.struzak@ties.itu.int

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 1

• Note: These materials may be used for study,
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please credit the author, Ryszard Struzak. These
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author's express permission. Copyright © 2001
Ryszard Struzak. All commercial rights are
reserved. If you have comments or suggestions,
please contact the author at
ryszard.struzak@ties.itu.int.
15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 2
 Summary Slide
• Antenna Measurements
• Antenna Calibration
• Anechoic Chamber
• TEM Cells
• 3D Radiation Pattern Measurements
• Conclusion

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 3

 Transmission vs. Reception

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 4

 Transmit/ Receive Equivalence
• Reciprocity theorem.
– The radiation pattern and radiation resistance of an
antenna is the same when it transmits and when it
receives, if no non-reciprocal devices are used.
• Does not apply to active antennas
–

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 5

 Antenna Measurements

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Radiation Pattern Measurements (1)
• Measured antenna in
receiving mode
– The antenna is rotated
(or the radiowave
source is moved
around)
– The power received
(output voltage) is
registered vs. the
direction angle
(azimuth, elevation)
15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak
• Measured antenna in
transmitting mode
– The antenna is rotated
(or the field-strength
meter is moved
around)
– The field-strength is
registered vs. the
direction angle
(azimuth, elevation)
7
Radiation Pattern Measurements (2)
• Laboratory • Field
– Special test site – In-situ measurements
• Open field • Measuring instruments
• Anechoic chamber in car, balloon,
• Near-field / Far field aeroplane, or helicopter
calculation • Actual distance /
• Scaling standard distance
problem
• Environmental effects

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 8

 Electric Field Measurement
• Dipole antenna
• Balance matching
• Impedance matching

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 9

 Wideband Antennas
• Impedance and
radiation pattern of
antenna are frequency
dependent
• Wideband antennas
– Conical antennas
– Equi-angular antennas
– Log-spiral antennas
– Log-periodic antennas
15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 10
 Impedance Matching
BALANCED
• For maximum power transfer the
load impedance must match the
source impedance:
 RLOAD = RSOURCE
 XLOAD = -XSOURCE
• Transmission line must /2
terminate in its characteristic
impedance
• The balanced/ unbalanced mode-
continuity must be assured or a
transformer (balun) must be used

UNBALANCED
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 Magnetic Field Measurement
Slot
• Loop antenna
• Screen against
electric component

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 12

 Calibration

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 13

 Gain Measurements: 2 Antennas
• Reciprocity method 2
  
– 2 identical antennas are PR  PT GT GR  
used: one as the  4r 
transmitting antenna
and another as GT  GR  G
receiving antenna
– The ratio of the power PR  4r 
received to power
G  
transmitted is
PT   
measured

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 14

 Gain Measurements: 3 Antennas
2
• The 3-antenna method can   
P12  PT G1G2  
be used to calibrate 3  4r 
arbitrary antennas.
2
• 3 measurements are made,   
giving 3 equations with 3 P23  PT G2G3  
unknown gains
 4r 
2
• It is the only method   
applicable to active P13  PT G1G3  
antennas that cannot be  4r 
used in transmit mode.

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 15

 Calibrating Test Antennas (1)
• Simulation of free-
space conditions
– Removing the reflected
ray by using absorbers
– Exploiting directivity
(radiation nulls)
– Practical with vertical
polarization
– Does not require
anechoic chamber

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 16

 Calibrating Test Antennas (2)
• Exploiting reflection
– Using conducting
surface
– Adjusting antenna
height to receive
maximum
– Practical with
horizontal polarization
– Does not require
anechoic chamber
15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 17
 Measurements in the Field
• Relative (comparative)
measurements using
Auxiliary antenna
an auxiliary antenna of
Antenna
known radiation under test
pattern eliminate the
distance dependence

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 18

 Far-Field Conditions
L
 1. R >> (/2)
2. R >> 2L2 / 
R
R+  << / 16 (22,5 deg. instead of 0 deg.)
(R+)2 = R2 +(L/2)2
R
R2 + 2R + 2 = R2 +(L/2)2
2R + 2 = (L/2)2
R ~ (L/2)2 /(2) = L2 /8
O
R >> (L2 /8) * (16/ )
Important when dealing with
15 Feb 2001
radiation nulls
Property of R. Struzak 19
 Example
• Antenna diameter = 2 m

1. 300 MHz ( = 1 m)
 /2 = 1/ 6.28 ~ 0.16 m
• 2L2/  = 8 / 1 = 8 m

2. 3000 MHz ( = 0.1 m)

 /2 = 0.1/6.28 ~ 0.016 m
• 2L2/  = 8 / 0.1 = 80 m

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 Anechoic Chamber
• Needs
• Benefits
• Problems
• Practical examples
and applications
• Photographs

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 21

 TEM Cells
• Needs
• Benefits
• Problems
• Practical examples and applications
• Double-polarization TEM Cell at the
author’s institute (photographs)
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3D–Radiation Pattern Measurements
• Needs
• Benefits
• Problems
• Flying radio-measurement laboratory
of the author’s institute (photographs)

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 Conclusion
• Antenna: substantial element of radio link
• We have just reviewed
– Basic concepts
– Radio wave radiation physics
– Elementary radiators
– Antenna systems
– Antenna measurements

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 For Further Readings
• Kraus JD: “Antennas” (1998)
• Stutzman WL et al.: “Antenna Theory and
Design” (1981)
• Johnson RC: “Antenna Engineering
Handbook” (1993)

15 Feb 2001 Property of R. Struzak 25

 Computer Programs
• Pozar D. “Antenna Design • NEC (Numerical
Using Personal Computers” Electromagnetics
• Li et al., “Microcomputer
Code)
Tools for Communication • Free software:
Engineering” – NEC Archives:
(www . gsl . net /
wb6tpu /swindex .
html). More than 300
NEC matches.

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 Thank you for your attention

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