This paper presents background information and experiment procedures for an antenna measurement laboratory course to be held in a new anechoic chamber at California Polytechnic State University. The lab consists of five experiments and one design project intended to give students practical experience with antenna measurement techniques and to creatively apply analytical skills to design, construct, and test antennas that meet given specifications. The experiments reinforce antenna principles including E-field polarization, antenna gain, radiation patterns, image theory, and frequency response.
In addition to the experiment procedures, this paper presents the design and characterization of Helical Beam (RHCP and LHCP) and Discone antennas, a Dipole Antenna near Planar and Corner Reflectors, and Dipoles with and without a balun. These antennas demonstrate polarization, antenna gain, broadband matching characteristics, image theory, and feedline radiation due to unbalanced currents. Measured radiation patterns, gain, and axial ratio (helical only) show excellent correlation to theoretical predictions

Arakaki, Dean Y.

Parker, Samuel

English

DigitalCommons@CalPoly

                                 A LABORATORY COURSE ON ANTENNA MEASUREMENT Samuel Parker Raytheon Systems Company, 2000 East Imperial Highway RE/R02/V509, El Segundo, CA 90245 Dean Arakaki Electrical Engineering Department, California Polytechnic State University 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 ABSTRACTThis paper presents background information and ex-periment procedures for an antenna measurement laboratory course to be held in a new anechoic cham-ber at California Polytechnic State University. The lab consists of five experiments and one design project intended to give students practical experience with antenna measurement techniques and to creatively apply analytical skills to design, construct, and test antennas that meet given specifications. The experi-ments reinforce antenna principles including E-field polarization, antenna gain, radiation patterns, image theory, and frequency response. In addition to the experiment procedures, this paper presents the design and characterization of HelicalBeam (RHCP and LHCP) and Discone antennas, a Dipole Antenna near Planar and Corner Reflectors, and Dipoles with and without a balun. These antennas demonstrate polarization, antenna gain, broadband matching characteristics, image theory, and feedline radiation due to unbalanced currents. Measured ra-diation patterns, gain, and axial ratio (helical only) show excellent correlation to theoretical predictions. Keywords: Anechoic chamber, Antenna Education, An­tenna measurements, Discone Antenna, Helical Antenna, Instrumentation. 1.0 Introduction Many antenna systems courses introduce theory and sys­tems characteristics without a laboratory component. Since the development of antenna systems benefits from a physical understanding of wave propagation and compe­tent measurement techniques, laboratory experiments should be an integral part of the lecture course. To ad­dress this issue, a complete laboratory course involving antenna measurements using Cal Poly’s anechoic cham­ber and antenna measurement system has been developed and is described in this paper. Section 2 contains back­ground information and procedures for five antenna measurement experiments. Antenna system parameters and components, theorems in electromagnetic theory as applied to antenna systems, and the specifications for a final design project are addressed in the experiment set.Section 3 of this paper contains detailed information on the design and measured performance of antennas used inthe experiments. 2.0 Experiment Background and Procedures The laboratory course, outlined in Table 1, is designed tocomplement topics covered in a lecture course on antenna theory. During the first week of the term, a tour and dem­onstration of the antenna measurement facility will begiven. The five experiments will be conducted during the second through the seventh weeks. The design projectwill be the emphasis during the final three weeks of the term. Table 1. Schedule of Experiments Week 1 Introduction and Overview of Labora­tory Course Week 2 Antenna Polarization Week 3 Gain Transfer Measurement Weeks 4-5 Radiation Pattern MeasurementWeek 6 Image Theory for Planar and Corner Reflectors Week 7 Frequency Response and Baluns Weeks 8-10 Design ProjectCalibration procedures are included at the beginning of each laboratory experiment to ensure accurate measure­ments and to establish proficient RF measurement tech­niques in students. 2.1 Antenna Polarization (Week 2)                                              This experiment demonstrates the significance of polari­zation in antenna systems. The experiment description includes an explanation of general elliptical polarization,the special cases of linear and circular polarization (both left- and right-hand: LHCP and RHCP), and their impor­tance to communications systems. The Poincaré sphere is introduced and used to graphically illustrate several po­larization states and to transform measured parameters to those that quantify antenna performance. Axial ratio is introduced to quantify the elliptical properties of radiatedelectromagnetic waves. The first part of the experiment involves the placement of two linearly polarized antennas (one transmit, one re­ceive) inside the anechoic chamber (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Mounting of Linearly Polarized Antenna PairMounting fixtures and calibration devices were designed and built to enable the measurement of the polarizationmatching factor F. This parameter quantifies the couplingbetween antennas based on their relative orientation (po­larization). The matching factor is measured between the antenna pair while varying the polarization tilt angle ofthe transmit antenna. The experimental outcome also in­troduces the idea of co- and cross-pol directions in an­tenna systems. In part two, a linearly polarized transmit antenna and a circularly polarized receive antenna (helical antenna, Fig. 2) are used to demonstrate the advantages and disadvan­tages of this system configuration. The polarization matching factor between the linearly andcircularly polarized antenna and the axial ratio for the circularly polarized antenna are measured. The represen­tation of a circularly polarized wave as the summation of two phase-shifted linearly polarized waves is used to ex­plain the value of the polarization matching factor for a linearly and circularly polarized pair of antennas. Fig. 2 Mounting of Helical Antenna The third configuration is composed of two circularlypolarized antennas (one transmit, one receive; both heli­cals) – first with aligned polarizations (RHCP to RHCP) followed by opposing polarizations (RHCP to LHCP). The polarization matching factor will be measured for the latter case relative to the former. 2.2 Gain Measurement (Week 3) The second experiment involves the gain characterization of various antennas using the gain transfer method. The concept of gain, as the amount of received power in the optimum direction relative to a nondirective (isotropic) antenna, is described in the experiment procedure. The received signal power from the antenna under test (AUT) is measured relative to levels detected by a standard gainhorn (see Fig. 1). This allows the gain of the AUT to be calculated based on the known gain of the standard. The gain of a linearly polarized antenna and the gain and axialratio of a circularly polarized antenna are measured. The linearly polarized antenna to be measured is a com­mercial Yagi antenna (Fig. 3). Fig. 3 Mounting of Linearly Polarized (Yagi) Antenna This antenna is first aligned to the beam peak and polari­zation direction. The received power is then measured to compute the gain relative to the gain standard.                                                                                    The circularly polarized antenna to be measured is a stu­dent-built helical antenna mounted in both the horizontal and vertical orientations (Fig. 4). Fig. 4 Mounting of a Circularly Polarized Helical Antenna: Horizontal and Vertical Orientations The overall gain for the helical antenna is calculated fromthe summation of gain magnitudes measured in both the horizontal and vertical orientations. 2.3 Radiation Pattern Measurements (Weeks 4 and 5) This experiment introduces students to antenna radiation patterns. The spherical coordinate system (applied to an­tenna structures), E and H planes for an AUT, and the radiation pattern’s polar representation of radiated power as a function of directional angle are defined in the ex­periment description. Diagrams such as Fig. 5 are used tohelp define these parameters and to show the positioner rotation axis and aperture E field direction. Z X Y Positioner Rotation Fig. 5 Example Coordinate Definition for Radiation Patterns Coordinate systems relative to the AUT are first appliedto define scan polar angles in the E and H planes. Thisestablishes the coordinate reference for radiation patterns taken for both linearly and circularly polarized antennas. Radiation patterns for two antenna types are measured inthis experiment: a commercial Yagi antenna (Fig. 3) andthe student-built helical antenna (Fig. 4). Measured front-back ratios are compared to the datasheet for the Yagi antenna and the analytically-based pattern for an array of loop antennas is compared to patterns measured for the helical antenna. The loop array has been shown to closelyapproximate the radiation characteristics of the helical antenna [1].Radiation pattern plotting routines were developed inMATLAB to help visualize the spatial relation between E and H plane patterns (see Fig. 6). Radiation Pattern in dB at 2.4 GHz Cushcraft PC2415N Yagi-Uda Antenna H-Plane E-Plane 330° θ = 0° 300° 30° 150° 180° 120° 60° 210° 90° 240° 60°-35-30 -25 -20-15 -10 270° 30° -5240° 0 300° = 0°φ330° 210° 120° 180° 150° Fig. 6 Example 3D Radiation Pattern 2.4 Image Theory (Week 6) The image theory experiment demonstrates the effect of a large ground plane in the vicinity of a radiator. The loca­tion and polarity of images in an equivalent configuration are explained in the experiment description. Image theoryis used to predict the radiation pattern of a dipole antenna located a specified distance from a planar and 90º corner planar perfect electrical conductor approximated by the structure shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 Dipole Near Planar and Corner Reflectors The measured results are compared to theoretical patterns calculated in MATLAB by applying Image Theory to the reflector configurations and analyzing the resultant linear or planar arrays. 2.5 Frequency Response and Baluns (Week 7) In the frequency response experiment, the input voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) for various antennas ismeasured to find the resonant frequencies and to evaluateimpedance matching characteristics to a 50Ω transmission line. Radiation patterns, gain, axial ratio, and VSWR per­                                                  formance are evaluated to determine the useful bandwidthfor each antenna. Broadband antennas, which maintain acceptable performance over a wide frequency range, are also explored. The above mentioned antenna parameters are measured for a student-built discone antenna (Fig. 8)as well as the Yagi and helical antennas used in previous experiments. Fig. 8 Discone (Broadband) Antenna The importance of baluns to match unbalanced transmis­sion lines to balanced antenna ports is also explained inthe experiment description. To illustrate the effect, radia­tion patterns for dipoles both with and without baluns (Fig. 9) are measured and compared (Figs. 10 and 11).  The absence of a null in the radiation pattern for the di­pole without the balun shows the effect of radiation fromcurrents flowing on the outside of the coax outer conduc­tor. Fig. 9 Dipole with and without Sleeve Balun Dipole Antenna without Balun Radiation Pattern (dB) vs. θ at 2.4 GHz (E-Plane) 0° 270° 90°-35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 30° 60° 120° 150° 180° 210° 240° 300° 330° Fig. 10 Radiation Pattern for Dipole without Balun Dipole Antenna with Balun Radiation Pattern (dB) vs. θ at 2.4 GHz (E-Plane) 0° 270° 90°-35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 30° 60° 120° 150° 180° 210° 240° 300° 330° Fig. 11 Radiation Pattern for Dipole with Balun 2.6 Design Project (Weeks 8-10) The final three weeks of the term will be devoted to a creative design project intended to require students tocombine and/or develop new radiating structures to sat­isfy a set of given design specifications. The project in­cludes simulations of candidate antenna geometries toidentify and refine the design, and developing parameter tradeoffs among the most promising alternatives. simula­tions can be accomplished using modeling software or analytical formulations programmed in MATLAB. Fi­nally, one or more prototypes are fabricated and tested toshow attainment of the design requirements. 3. Antenna Designs Two antenna types were designed and built for use in the experiments as part of this project. Section 3 describes the design and measured performance of a 2.4-2.5GHz Heli­cal Beam Antenna and a 2.5GHz Discone Antenna.  The Helical Beam Antenna produces circularly polarized waves and high gain over a relatively wide bandwidth(~40%). The three helical antennas constructed from thisdesign are the backbone of the antenna polarization ex­periment and are also integral to the gain transfer, radia­tion pattern, and frequency response experiments. Critical dimensions for the helical including turn spacing, pitch angle, number of turns, and the end cap ground plane are described in [1], while construction details in­volving the selection of inexpensive components to real­ize the antenna are described in [2]. For instance, a 1” PVC pipe was used as the coil form onto which the heli­cal antenna is wound (see Fig. 12).                             30          60               Fig. 15 Coordinate System for Helical Antenna ModelHelical Antenna #3 Radiation Pattern (dB) vs. θ at 2.4 GHz (LHCP AUT with θ-Aligned Source Horn) 0° -45 -40 -35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 ° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180° 210° 240° 270° 300° 330° Measured PatternTheoretical Pattern Fig. 16 XZ-Plane Radiation Pattern, Helical AntennaFig. 12 Helical Antenna on Coil Formand End Cap Ground Plane The matching section is critical in achieving broadband performance. Guidelines on the empirical adjustment of a copper strip (Fig. 13) on the first quarter wavelength (atmidband) are given in [3].Fig. 13 Matching Section on Helical Antenna Feed The effective feed point is at the end of the copper strip. This location sets the pattern null formed on the axis inthe plane of the 1λ diameter loops 90o offset from the feed point. Through refinements in the matching section, VSWRvalues remained below 2.0 over the band 1.55GHz to3.20GHz. Fig. 14 shows the VSWR frequency response for Helical Antenna #1, one of three prototypes built for the lab experiments.  Gain and axial ratio were alsomeasured, but have been omitted for brevity. Predictions-40 -35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 0° 30° ° 90° 120° 150° 180° 210° 240° 270° 300° 330° Helical Antenna #3 Radiation Pattern (dB) vs. φ at 2.4 GHz (LHCP AUT with θ-Aligned Source Horn) Measured Pattern   Theoretical Pattern Fig. 17 XY-Plane Radiation Pattern, Helical Antennaof the radiation patterns using a 1λ diameter loop arraywere plotted and compared to the measured patterns. For planes; Figs. 16 and 17, respectively. The xz-plane pat­tern shows the loop element pattern nulls at θ=0 and θ=180o. the configuration shown in Fig. 15, calculated and meas-ured radiation patterns are compared in the xz- and xy-Helical Antenna 1 - Input VSWR 1.259 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 Frequency (GHz) VSWR Fig. 14 VSWR Response for Helical Antenna #1 The “Discone” Antenna (‘disk’ + ‘cone’) used in the fre­quency response experiment (see Fig. 8) operates at fre­quencies greater than 2GHz. This design was first de­scribed by Kandoian in 1946 [4].Dimensional parameters (Fig. 18) and design guidelines for their selection are given in [1]. The discone antenna provides excellent impedance matching to a 50Ω trans­mission line over a broad frequency range as illustrated inFig. 19. VSWR values remain below 1.6 over the band 0.6GHz to 11.5GHz. It should be noted that these resultswere obtained using a ‘hand-made’ prototype. This attests                                          to the relative insensitivity of this design to dimensional tolerances. θDHDiskConeδBCoax Feed LineFig. 18 Discone Antenna Dimensional Parameters Discone Antenna VSWR 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5 7.5 8.5 9.5 10.5 11.5 Frequency (GHz) VSWR Fig. 19 VSWR Response for Discone Antenna 4. Conclusions This paper has presented a set of experiments to accom­pany a lecture course on antenna theory. The procedures for each experiment are outlined and concepts important to antenna theory and design are highlighted. Student-built antenna designs are also presented including con­struction details and test results. Predictions derived fromapproximate analytical models are compared to measured results; close correlation is illustrated.It is believed that this set of antenna measurement ex­periments will lead to an improved understanding of elec­tromagnetic wave propagation and illustrate antenna de­sign and measurement techniques. It should also provide confirmation of the theory presented in lecture courses and help set a foundation toward accomplished measure­ment skills. 5. REFERENCES[1] Stutzman, Warren, and Gary A. Thiele. 	Antenna Theory and Design. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1998. [2] Hecker, Jason. 	How to Make a Simple 2.425GHz Helical Aerial for Wireless ISM Band Devices. 2003. <http://www.wireless.org.au/~jhecker/helix/>. [3] Kraus, John D. “A 50-Ohm Input Impedance for Helical Beam Antennas.” IEEE Transactions on An-tennas and Propagation 25-6 (1977): 913 [4] Kandoian, Armig G. “Three New Antenna Types and Their Applications.” Proc. IRE 34 (1946): 70W-75W6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe authors would like to thank Deskin Research, Ray­theon, and Lockheed Martin for material donations and the employees of Lockheed Martin and JPL for technicalsupport during the construction and testing of the CalPoly Anechoic Chamber, which made possible the testing of all antenna prototypes. Support is also acknowledged from Cal Poly’s Center for Teaching and Learning through the Fall Faculty Support Grant Program. 

A Laboratory Course on Antenna Measurement

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A Laboratory Course on Antenna Measurement

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