Compact COMM-NAV Antenna for Handset Application

In order to to reduce the amount of equipment a soldier must carry, a combined Communications and Navigation Antenna (COMM-NAV) antenna was proposed as a design objective at the MITRE Cooperation. This study aims to combine a UHF (communications)GPS (navigation) antenna into a single unit. The UHF band of interest was established to be 225MHz to 400MHz, whereas the GPS antenna is required to operate at L1 (1227MHz) and L2 (1575MHz) frequencies. This design is required to minimize interference between the two antennas. Through simulations and measurements, two antennas were designed to meet these requirements. The UHF antenna uses a sleeve monopole design, whereas a stacked, shorted annular ring design was selected to meet the GPS requirements

Dual-linearly polarized, electrically small, low-profile, broadside radiating, huygens dipole antenna

© 1963-2012 IEEE. A dual-linearly polarized, electrically small, low-profile, broadside radiating Huygens dipole antenna is presented, that is, an advanced combination of electric and magnetic near-field resonant parasitic elements. Its prototype was fabricated and tested. The measured results are in good agreement with their simulated values. At 1.515 GHz, the prototype is electrically small ( ka = 0.904 ) and low profile ( 0.0483\lambda -{0} ). It exhibits high port isolation and a large front-to-back ratio (FTBR). The isolation between its two ports is demonstrated to be over 25.8 dB within its -10 dB fractional impedance bandwidth, 0.46%. When port 1 (port 2) is excited, the peak realized gain is 2.03 dBi (2.15 dBi) strictly along the broadside direction with a 12.4 dB (12.1 dB) FTBR

Variable-fidelity electromagnetic simulations and co-kriging for accurate modeling of antennas

Accurate and fast models are indispensable in contemporary antenna design. In this paper, we describe the low-cost antenna modeling methodology involving variable-fidelity electromagnetic (EM) simulations and co-Kriging. Our approach exploits sparsely sampled accurate (high-fidelity) EM data as well as densely sampled coarse-discretization (low-fidelity) EM simulations that are accommodated into one model using the co-Kriging technique. By using coarse-discretization simulations, the computational cost of creating the antenna model is greatly reduced compared to conventional approaches, where high-fidelity simulations are directly used to set up the model. At the same time, the modeling accuracy is not compromised. The proposed technique is demonstrated using three examples of antenna structures. Comparisons with conventional modeling based on high-fidelity data approximation, as well as applications for antenna design, are also discussed

Integration of a 15-Element, VHF Bow-Tie Antenna Array into an Aerodynamic Fairing on a NASA P-3 Aircraft

Radar depth sounding and imaging of deep glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland yield results for better understanding a changing climate and improving glacier modeling. A 15-element, airborne antenna array with an increased bandwidth was developed to advance the potential for radar measurements as part of NASA Operation IceBridge (OIB). These antennas were a planar, modified bow-tie antenna design. The antennas were fed using a custom ferrite, transmission line transformer balun capable of operating with high power signals and across a wide frequency range. An aerodynamic fairing enclosed the antennas and was required to achieve structural performance, but the structural design contradicted and imposed limitations on the antenna performance. Dielectric and parasitic conductors loaded the antenna, limited bandwidth and decreased return loss. Detailed analysis through full-wave simulations and measurements identified the structural effects on the antenna. Proper compensation techniques regarding antenna design and adaption of the surrounding structure improved the antenna performance. The original structure design rendered the antenna incapable of producing a return loss greater than 10 dB, and the final structure and antenna design achieved a bandwidth of 41% with a center frequency of 195 MHz in reference to a 10 dB return loss. The design also considered the mutual coupling between array elements, and this was reduced using unique modifications to the antenna ends

Evaluation and Analysis of Array Antennas for Passive Coherent Location (PCL) Systems

Passive Coherent Location (PCL) systems use a special form of a radar receiver that exploits the ambient radiation in the environment to detect and track targets. Typical transmissions of opportunity that might be exploited include television and FM radiobroadcasts. PCL implies the use of a non-radar electromagnetic sources of illumination, such as commercial radio or television broadcasts also referred as transmitters of opportunity. The use of such illumination sources means that the receiver needs to process waveforms that are not designed for radar purposes. As a consequence, the receivers for PCL systems must be much more customized than traditional receivers, in order to obtain the most appropriate and best signal. Since antennas are the eyes of the receivers, processing of an incoming signal starts with the antennas. Yet, because PCL system is non-traditional, there has not been much work done in the evaluation of the antennas, even though PCL systems have some demanding constraints on the antenna system. During this research various array antenna designs will be studied by their radiation patterns, gain factors, input impedances, power efficiencies and other features by simulating these arrays in the computer environment. The goal is to show the better performance of the array antennas compared to traditional Yagi-Uda antennas that are currently used for PCL systems

Antenna and system design for controlled delivery of microwave thermal ablation

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Electrical and Computer EngineeringPunit PrakashMicrowave ablation is an established minimally invasive modality for thermal ablation of unresectable tumors and other diseases. The goal of a microwave ablation procedure is to deliver microwave power in a manner localized to the targeted tissue, with the objective of raising the target tissue to ablative temperatures (~60 °C). Engineering efforts in microwave applicator design have largely been focused on the design of microwave antennas that yield large, near-spherical ablation zones, and can fit within rigid needles or flexible catheters. These efforts have led to significant progress in the development and clinical application of microwave ablation systems, particularly for treating tumors in the liver and other highly vascular organs. However, currently available applicator designs are ill-suited to treating targets of diverse shapes and sizes. Furthermore, there are a lack of non-imaging-based techniques for monitoring the transient progression of the ablation zone as a means for providing feedback to the physician. This dissertation presents the design, implementation, and experimental evaluation of microwave ablation antennas for site-specific therapeutic applications with these issues in mind. A deployable 915 MHz loop antenna is presented, providing a minimally-invasive approach for thermal ablation of the endometrial lining of the uterus for treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. The antenna incorporates a radiating loop, which can be deployed to adjustable shapes within the uterine cavity, and a passive element, to enable thermal ablation, to 5.7–9.6 mm depth, of uterine cavities ranging in size from 4–6.5 cm in length and 2.5–4.5 cm in width. Electromagnetic–bioheat transfer simulations were employed for design optimization of the antennas, and proof-of-concept applicators were fabricated and extensively evaluated in ex vivo tissue. Finally, feasibility of using the broadband antenna reflection coefficient for monitoring the ablation progress during the course of ablation was evaluated. Experimental studies demonstrated a shift in antenna resonant frequency of 50 MHz correlated with complete ablation. For treatment of 1–2 cm spherical targets, water-cooled monopole antennas operating at 2.45 and 5.8 GHz were designed and experimentally evaluated in ex vivo tissue. The technical feasibility of using these applicators for treating 1–2 cm diameter benign adrenal adenomas was demonstrated. These studies demonstrated the potential of using minimally-invasive microwave ablation applicators for treatment of hypertension caused by benign aldosterone producing adenomas. Since tissue dielectric properties have been observed to change substantially at elevated temperatures, knowledge of the temperature-dependence of tissue dielectric properties may provide a means for estimating treatment state from changes in antenna reflection coefficient during a procedure. The broadband dielectric properties of bovine liver, an established tissue for experimental characterization of microwave ablation applicators, were measured from room temperature to ablative temperatures. The measured dielectric data were fit to a parametric model using piecewise linear functions, providing a means for readily incorporating these data into computational models. These data represent the first report of changes in broadband dielectric properties of liver tissue at ablative temperatures and should help enable additional studies in ablation system development

Space suit communication antenna system Final report

Antenna configurations and mounting schemes for Apollo astronaut space suit communication syste

Aeronautical Engineering: A special bibliography with indexes, supplement 72, July 1976

This bibliography lists 184 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in June 1976