Vivaldi Antenna

(Broadband Tapered Slot

Antenna)
 Introduction
• A Vivaldi antenna is a co-planar broadband-antenna made of a
dielectric plate metalized on both sides.

• The feeding line excites a circular space via a microstrip line,

terminated with a sector-shaped area.

• Can be made for linear polarized waves or – using two devices

arranged in orthogonal direction – for transmitting / receiving
both polarization orientations.
 PROTOTYPE OF VIVALDI ANTENNA

Dielectric Circular
Plate Space

Feed
 Advantages
• Broadband characteristics (suitable for ultra-wideband signals)
• Low profile
• Symmetric radiation pattern
• Stable radiation pattern
• High directivity
• Easy manufacturing process using common methods
for PCB production
• Easy impedance matching to the feeding line using microstrip
line modeling methods.
Radiation Pattern of Vivaldi Antenna
From the circular resonant
area, the energy reaches
an exponential pattern via
a symmetrical slot line.
 Types of Taper profiles

(a) Exponential (b) Linear constant (c) Tangential (d) Exponential constant
 Feeding Techniques

(a) Coaxial line (b) Microstrip

 Trivia
• The Vivaldi antenna was first discussed in a 1979 IEEE European
Microwave Conference paper by P. J. Gibson in a paper entitled The
Vivaldi Aerial. In the abstract he describes it as "a new member of the
class of aperiodic continuously scaled antenna structures, as such, it
has theoretically unlimited instantaneous bandwidth.”

“Received its name from a resemblance to the shape of a cello or

violin, instruments used by Antonio Vivaldi, the designer's favourite
composer”
 Application
(Radar Cross Section Reduction)
• Aircrafts, missiles, ships, military vehicles
• RCS - Ability of the target antenna to reflect signals in the direction of
the radar receiver
• Factors - size, geometry, composition of the target, the viewing
direction, the frequency and polarisation of the radar signal
• The RCS is associated with the ratio of the reflected electromagnetic
power to the incident power and is defined by

where r is the distance between the radar source and the target,
Ei is the incident electric field amplitude
Es is the scattered field amplitude at the receiver.
A Technique available in Literature to reduce
RCS
• A passive Vivaldi antenna design is proposed for radar cross section
(RCS) reduction using object shaping method.

• The implementation of annular slot along with exponential curves in

the radiator reduced the scattering along the surface of the radiator.
 A Proposed Design in Literature for RCS reduction
Design of an X-band Vivaldi antenna with low radar cross section
Authors:R. Natarajan, M. Kanagasabai and J. V. George
Journal:IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation

L= 18mm, W= 14mm, h= 0.8mm, s= 0.2mm

Reconfigurable Antennas
(Antennas with dynamic
response)
 INTRODUCTION
RECONFIGURABLE ANTENNAS
• Emerging applications in wireless communications require advanced
antenna systems that are able to satisfy the needs of such application

• Integration of multiple radios in a single platform

• Integration of multiple radios with reconfigurable antennas without

resorting to multiple antenna components

• Changes the functionality, to dynamically cater for multiple wireless services

without increasing the size of the antennas
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 TYPES OF RECONFIGURABLE
ANTENNAS

(Reconfigure (Reshape the (Switches between (Capability of

their operation radiation different simultaneously tuning
to function in patterns to polarisation several antenna
multiple block a signal modes, reduces parameters, like
frequency bands. or to allow the polarisation frequency and radiation
Eg. Cognitive radiation in a mismatch losses pattern. Eg. Combination
Radio) certain in the portable of frequency agility and
predetermined devices. beam-scanning to provide
direction. Eg. Satellite improved spectral
Eg. Mobile communication) efficiencies)
Antennas)
12/11/2022 15
“By placing the components(actuators) in strategic locations over the
geometry of the antenna, the current paths can be engineered in such a
way that radiation pattern /operating frequencies/ polarization follow
the desired requirements”
 Actuators
• Switches
• PIN Diodes
• Varactor diodes
• MEMS switches
• Tunable circuits
• Optical laser pumps
• Dielectric Fluids
• Tunable Substrates
 Pros and Cons of actuators
Tunable component Advantages Disadvantages

MEMS Reduced insertion loss, good Need high-control voltage (50–

isolation, extremely high 100 V), poor reliability due to
linearity, low power losses, mechanical movement within
consumes little or almost no DC the switch (0.2–100 µs), slow
power, wide bandwidth switching speed, discrete
tuning, limited lifecycle
PIN Diode Needs very low driving voltage, Needs high DC bias current in
high tuning speed (1–100 ns), their on state which consumes a
high power handling capability, significant amount of DC power
very reliable since there are no
moving part, extremely low cost

Varactor The current flow through the Varactors are nonlinear and
varactor is small compared to have low dynamic range, and
PIN diode or MEMS, continuous complex bias circuitry are
tuning required
 Reconfigurable Antenna Technologies
• Tunable/Switchable antenna

• Wideband antenna integration with tunable filter

• Reconfigurable arrays
 "Ultrawideband Elliptical Monopoles With a Reconfigurable Band Notch
Using MEMS Switches Actuated Without Bias Lines,"
Authors : Nikolaou, S.; Kingsley, N.D.; Ponchak, G.E.; Papapolymerou, J.;
Tentzeris, M.M
Journal : IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

DIMENSION SUBSTRATE RECONFIGURABILITY ACTUATOR

38mm*26 mm LCP FREQUENCY MEM SWITCHES

Tunable/Switchable antenna

12/11/2022 20
 “Integrated Wide-Narrowband Antenna for Multi-Standard Radio,"
Authors : Tawk, Y.; Costantine, J.; Avery, K.; Christodoulou, C.G.,
Journal : IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

DIMENSION SUBSTRATE RECONFIGURABILITY ACTUATOR

54mm*35 mm Tactonic TLC FREQUENCY Integrated Matching
Laminate Circuit

4 GHz 8 GHz 10 GHz

Wideband antenna integration

Front view Back view with tunable filter
12/11/2022 21
 “Frequency Reconfigurable MIMO Output With High Isolation,"
Authors : Jin, Z.-J.; Lim, J.-H.; Yun, T.-Y.
Journal : IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation

DIMENSION SUBSTRATE RECONFIGURABILITY ACTUATOR

80mm*40 mm FR4 FREQUENCY MEM SWITCHES

Reconfigurable Array

12/11/2022 22
 ”Reconfigurable Rhombus-Shaped Patch Antenna with Y Shaped Feed for
Polarisation Diversity,"
Authors : Lee, S.W.; Sung, Y.J.,
Journal : IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters 

DIMENSION SUBSTRATE RECONFIGURABILITY ACTUATOR

70mm*70 mm FR4 POLARIZATION PIN Diodes

Polarization reconfiguration

12/11/2022 23
 “A Pattern Reconfigurable U-Slot Antenna and It’s Application in MIMO
Systems,"
Authors : Pei-Yuan Qin; Guo, Y.J.; Weily, A.R.; Chang-Hong Liang,
Journal : IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

DIMENSION SUBSTRATE RECONFIGURABILITY ACTUATOR

50mm*50 mm FR4 PATTERN PIN DIODES

Pattern Reconfiguration

12/11/2022 24
Thank you