Circularly Polarized Antennas
eBook - ePub

Circularly Polarized Antennas

  1. English
  2. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  3. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

Circularly Polarized Antennas

About this book

This book presents a comprehensive insight into the design techniques for different types of CP antenna elements and arrays

In this book, the authors address a broad range of topics on circularly polarized (CP) antennas. Firstly, it introduces to the reader basic principles, design techniques and characteristics of various types of CP antennas, such as CP patch antennas, CP helix antennas, quadrifilar helix antennas (QHA), printed quadrifilar helix antennas (PQHA), spiral antenna, CP slot antennas, CP dielectric resonator antennas, loop antennas, crossed dipoles, monopoles and CP horns. Advanced designs such as small-size CP antennas, broadband, wideband and ultra-wideband CP antennas are also discussed, as well as multi-band CP antennas and dual CP antennas. The design and analysis of different types of CP array antennas such as broadband CP patch arrays, dual-band CP arrays, CP printed slot arrays, single-band and multi-band CP reflectarrays, high-gain CP waveguide slot antennas, CP dielectric resonator antenna arrays, CP active arrays, millimetre-waveband CP arrays in LTCC, and CP arrays with electronically beam-switching or beam-steering capabilities are described in detail. Case studies are provided to illustrate the design and implementation of CP antennas in practical scenarios such as dual-band Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers, satellite communication mobile terminals at the S-band, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers at 2.4 GHz, and Ka-band high-speed satellite communication applications. It also includes the detailed designs for a wideband Logarithmic spiral antenna that can operate from 3.4-7.7 GHz. In addition, the book offers a detailed review of the recent developments of different types of CP antennas and arrays.

  • Presents comprehensive discussions of design techniques for different types of CP antennas: small-size CP antennas, broadband CP antennas, multi-band CP antennas and CP arrays.
  • Covers a wide range of antenna technologies such as microstrip antennas, helix, quadrifilar helix antenna, printed quadrifilar helix antenna, dielectric resonator antennas, printed slots, spiral antennas, monopoles, waveguide slot arrays, reflectarrays, active arrays, millimetre-wave arrays in LTCC, electronically beam-switching arrays and electronically beam-steerable arrays.
  • Reviews recent developments in different types of CP antennas and arrays, reported by industries, researchers and academics worldwide.
  • Includes numerous case studies to demonstrate how to design and implement different CP antennas in practical scenarios.
  • Provides both an introduction for students in the field and an in-depth reference for antenna/RF engineers who work on the development of CP antennas.

Circularly Polarized Antennas will be an invaluable guide for researchers in R&D organizations; system engineers (antenna, telecom, space and satellite); postgraduates studying the subjects of antenna and propagation, electromagnetics, RF/microwave/millimetre-wave systems, satellite communications and so on; technical managers and professionals in the areas of antennas and propagation.

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Yes, you can access Circularly Polarized Antennas by Steven Shichang Gao,Qi Luo,Fuguo Zhu in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Technology & Engineering & Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Chapter 1

Introduction to Circularly Polarized Antennas

1.1 Introduction

Circularly polarized (CP) antennas are a type of antenna with circular polarization. Due to the features of circular polarization, CP antennas have several important advantages compared to antennas using linear polarizations, and are becoming a key technology for various wireless systems including satellite communications, mobile communications, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), wireless sensors, radio frequency identification (RFID), wireless power transmission, wireless local area networks (WLAN), wireless personal area networks (WPAN), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Direct Broadcasting Service (DBS) television reception systems. Lots of progress in research and development has been made during recent years.
The CP antenna is very effective in combating multi-path interferences or fading [1, 2]. The reflected radio signal from the ground or other objects will result in a reversal of polarization, that is, right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) reflections show left-hand circular polarization (LHCP). A RHCP antenna will have a rejection of a reflected signal which is LHCP, thus reducing the multi-path interferences from the reflected signals.
The second advantage is that CP antenna is able to reduce the ‘Faraday rotation’ effect due to the ionosphere [3, 4]. The Faraday rotation effect causes a significant signal loss (about 3 dB or more) if linearly polarized signals are employed. The CP antenna is immune to this problem, thus the CP antenna is widely used for space telemetry applications of satellites, space probes and ballistic missiles to transmit or receive signals that have undergone Faraday rotation by travelling through the ionosphere.
Another advantage of using CP antennas is that no strict orientation between transmitting and receiving antennas is required. This is different from linearly polarized antennas which are subject to polarization mismatch losses if arbitrary polarization misalignment occurs between transmitting and receiving antennas. This is useful for mobile satellite communications where it is difficult to maintain a constant antenna orientation. With CP, the strength of the received signals is fairly constant regardless of the antenna orientation. These advantages make CP antennas very attractive for many wireless systems.
This chapter serves as a basis for the chapters that follow. It will introduce some basic parameters of antennas. Different types of basic CP antennas such as CP microstrip patch antenna, helix, quadrifilar helix antenna (QHA), printed quadrifilar helix antenna (PQHA), spiral antenna, CP dielectric resonator antenna (DRA), CP slot antennas, CP horns and CP arrays will be described and basic designs illustrated. Typical requirements and challenges in CP antenna designs will be discussed at the end.

1.2 Antenna Parameters

An antenna is a device which can receive or/and transmit radio signals. As a receiving device, it can collect the radio signals from free space and convert them from electromagnetic waves (in the free space) into guided waves in transmission lines; as a transmitting device, it can transmit radio signals to free space by converting the guided waves in transmission lines into the electromagnetic waves in the free space. In some cases, an antenna can serve both functions of receive and transmit.
Figure 1.1 depicts the basic operation of a transmit antenna. As shown, the information (voice, image or data) is processed in a radio transmitter and then the output signal from the transmitter propagates along the transmission lines before finally being radiated by the antenna. The antenna converts the guided-wave signals in the transmission lines into electromagnetic waves in the free space. The operation of a receive antenna follows a reverse process, that is, collecting the radio signals by converting the electromagnetic waves in free space into guided-wave signals in the transmission lines, which are then fed into radio receivers.
Figure 1.1 Basic operations of a transmit antenna
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1.2.1 Input Impedance

The input impedance Zin is defined as the impedance presented by an antenna at its feed point, or the ratio of the voltage to current at the feed point [5]. The input impedance is usually a complex number which is also frequency dependent. It can be expressed as
1.1
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The real part of the impedance, Rin, includes the radiation resistance Rr of the antenna and the loss resistance RL. Rr relates to the power radiated by the antenna, and RL relates to the power dissipated in the antenna due to losses in dielectric materials, antenna conductor losses, and so on.

1.2.2 Reflection Coefficient, Return Loss and Voltage Standing Wave Ratio

The antenna input impedance needs to be matched with the characteristic impedance of the transmission line connected to the feed point of the antenna. Usually a 50 Ω cable is used to feed the antenna. Thus the antenna input impedance needs to be equal to 50 Ω, otherwise there will be an impedance mismatch at the antenna feed point. In the case of impedance mismatch, there will be signal reflections, that is, some of signals fed to the antenna will be reflected back to the signal sources.
The reflection coefficient Γ denotes the ratio of the reflected wave voltage to the incident wave voltage [5]. The reflection coefficient at the feed point of the antenna can be related to the antenna input impedance by the following equation:
1.2
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Here, Zin and Zo denote the input impedance of the antenna, and the characteristic impedance of the transmission line connected to the antenna feed point, respectively. As shown in equation (1.2), the reflection coefficient is zero if Zin is equal to Zo.
Return loss (in dB) is defined as:
equation
For a well-designed antenna, the required return loss should usually be at least 10 dB, though some antennas on small mobile terminals can only achieve about 6 dB. Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) is the ratio of the maximum voltage Vmax to the minimum voltage Vmin on the transmission line. It is defined as:
1.3
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1.2.3 Radiation Patterns

The radiation pattern of the antenna illustrates the distribution of radiated power in the space [6–9]. It can be plotted in a spherical coordinate system as the radiated power versus the elevation angle (θ) or the azimuth angle (
c01-math-0005
). Figure 1.2 shows a radiation pattern plotted as the radiated power versus the elevation angle (θ). As shown, the radiation pattern has a few lobes. The main lobe is the lobe containing the majority of radiated power. The lobe radiating towards the backward direction is the back lobe. Usually there will also be a few other small lobes called the side lobes. The 3-dB beamwidth indicated in the figure refers to the angular range between two points where the radiated power is half the maximum radiated...

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Preface
  5. Acknowledgements
  6. Abbreviations and Acronyms
  7. Chapter 1: Introduction to Circularly Polarized Antennas
  8. Chapter 2: Small Circularly Polarized Antenna
  9. Chapter 3: Broadband Circularly Polarized Antennas
  10. Chapter 4: Multi-Band Circularly Polarized Antennas
  11. Chapter 5: Circularly Polarized Arrays
  12. Chapter 6: Case Studies
  13. Index