Antenna Theory Lab #1

Spring 16
Anthony Trautman

Objective

Design and simulate a printed strip dipole antenna

1 Ghz (lambda = 30 cm)
Greater than 17.5 dB return loss
1.6mm substrate
Design parameters to vary
Length
Width

Substrate Defined

Antenna Layout
132 mm

20 mm

65 mm

4x5 mm

Design Approach and Results

The design approach was not very elegant but was effective. It was know that the overall length of the antenna needed
to be approximately 0.5 lamba (150 mm) and the width should not exceed 0.1 lamda (30 mm). Given these numbers as
starting point a trial and error approach was used to zero in on dimensions that met the design requirements of greater
than 17.5dB return loss @ 1GHz. The antenna dimensions achieved a 36.5 dB return loss.

Design Approach and Results

Input Impedance

Lossy Substrate Results

Radiation Pattern @ 1GHz

Current Density Visualization @ 1GHz

Resonance at 2.5GHz

The resonance at 2.5 GHz (near 3GHz) at /2 cycles. This antenna will resonate at all k* /2 points.

Current Density Visualization @ 2.5GHz

High contrast Substrate

Antenna Layout
132 mm

20 mm

65 mm

4x5 mm

High Contrast Substrate Results

Adding the high contrast substrate significantly altered the resonant frequency and bandwidth of the original design.
This was expected as any material being put in close proximity with an antenna.

High Contrast Substrate Results

High Contrast Substrate Results

High Contrast Substrate Results

Lossy Substrate

Antenna Layout
132 mm

20 mm

65 mm

4x5 mm

Lossy Substrate Results

The lossy substrate moved the resonant frequency down 7 MHz and the return loss lost 0.2dB. These results were

Lossy Substrate Results

Lossy Substrate Results

Lossy Substrate Results