electronics
Article
Miniaturized Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna with Improved
Bandwidth Using Exponential Strip Arms
Mohammad Mahdi Honari * , Mohammad Saeid Ghaffarian and Rashid Mirzavand






Citation: Honari, M.M.; Ghaffarian,
M.S.; Mirzavand, R. Miniaturized
Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna with
Improved Bandwidth Using
Exponential Strip Arms. Electronics
2021, 10, 83. https://doi.org/
10.3390/electronics10010083
Received: 15 November 2020
Accepted: 31 December 2020
Published: 4 January 2021
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu-
tral with regard to jurisdictional clai-
ms in published maps and institutio-
nal affiliations.
Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Li-
censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and con-
ditions of the Creative Commons At-
tribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).
Electronics 2021, 10, 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10010083
Intelligent Wireless Technology Laboratory, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of
Alberta, 9211 116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada; msghaffarian@ualberta.ca (M.S.G.);
mirzavan@ualberta.ca (R.M.)
* Correspondence: honarika@ualberta.ca
Abstract: In this paper, a miniaturized ultra-wideband antipodal tapered slot antenna with exponen-
tial strip arms is presented. Two exponential arms with designed equations are optimized to reduce
the lower edge cut-off frequency of the impedance bandwidth from 1480 MHz to 720 MHz, resulting
in antenna miniaturization by 51%. This approach also improves antenna bandwidth without com-
promising the radiation characteristics. The dimension of the proposed antenna structure including
the feeding line and transition is 158 × 125 × 1 mm3 . The results show that a peak gain more than
1 dBi is achieved all over the impedance bandwidth (0.72–17 GHz), which is an improvement to what
have been reported for antipodal tapered slot and Vivaldi antennas with similar size.
Keywords: antipodal Vivaldi antenna (AVA); tapered slot antenna (TSA); ultra-wideband (UWB)
1. Introduction
Due to the rapid development of wireless communication, ultra-wideband anten-
nas/systems are becoming highly attractive in many wideband applications, such as broad
band wireless communications, ultra-wideband interference, and imaging systems [1,2].
They can be used in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test and measurement of emerg-
ing wireless technology devices and UWB security radar detection [3]. Different antennas
such as double ridge horn antennas, fractal antenna or planar Vivaldi antennas could be
utilized for mentioned applications. Due to the relatively large and expensive fabrication
process of horn antennas and poor radiation of fractal antennas, Vivaldi antennas seem to
be a good choice because of their ultra-wideband performance with acceptable radiation
characteristics.
Vivaldi antennas which are also called exponential tapered slot antennas (ETSA) were
introduced by Gibson and Gazit as a new class of UWB antennas [4,5]. The dual exponential
tapered slot antennas (DETSA) are a type of conventional Vivaldi antennas [5–7]. Recently,
many types of TSA antennas such as linear TSA, conformal TSA, parabolic TSA, and
logarithmic TSA were investigated extensively in [4–11].
Several modifications have been carried out on the basic co-planar TSA structure,
resulting in antipodal Vivaldi antennas (AVAs) which consist of two radiating arms on
either side of the substrate with 180◦ differential phase excitation to obtain the best radiation
characteristics. The AVAs possess some advantages such as ultra-wideband performance
compared to other Vivaldi antennas. Various kinds of AVA structures have been reported
in [11–18] and some techniques have been proposed to reduce the size of AVAs and improve
their performance [15–19]. In these antennas, although the high edge of frequency band of
interest could be increased to ultra-high frequencies, the lower edge cut-off is still limited
by the antenna effective aperture size.
In this paper, a miniaturized AVA with improved impedance bandwidth is proposed.
Two exponential arms with designed equations are added to the conventional structure
of antipodal Vivaldi antenna in order to miniaturize the whole size of the antenna. By
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/electronics
Electronics 2021, 10, 83 2 of 12

adding two of these additional arms, it is demonstrated that the lower edge of impedance
bandwidth starts from 0.72 GHz instead of its original value of 1.48 GHz, resulting in
antenna miniaturization by 51% size reduction. The measured results show that the
proposed antenna perfectly works over 0.72 GHz to 17 GHz.
The paper is organized as follows: First, the antenna configuration and design pro-
cedure are presented. By using antenna current distribution, the antenna radiation mech-
anism is demonstrated to bring a physical insight into the improvement of the antenna
performance. Then antenna design simulation with parametric study and measured results
are investigated. Finally, a conclusion is given in the last section.

2. Antenna Configuration and Design

Figure 1a shows conventional antipodal antennas with different widths of tapered
Electronics 2021, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW
strips labeled as m1 . To investigate the effect of tapered strips’ width of the antenna 3 ofon
12
cut-off frequency and antenna size miniaturization, four cases with different widths of
tapered strips of 10 mm, 22 mm, 50 mm, and 80 mm are considered in Figure 1. As shown
in Figure 1b, by
In order tochanging the width ofthe
further understand tapered strips,
behavior ofthe
theantenna cut-off frequency
AVA structure, especiallychanges
in the
between 1.55 GHz to 1.4 GHz. Although m can be used for antenna
lower frequencies, the current distribution of the AVA with arms (proposed structure)
1 matching, this variable
cannot be obviously
and without utilized for antenna
them (conventional size is
structure) miniaturization.
shown in Figure In addition, the antenna
3. As shown in Figuregain 3a,
for all four cases in Figure 1b shows that the width of tapered strips
at 1.6 GHz, both structures with/without arms, approximately have the same current in antipodal antennasdis-
affects
tribution.mainly the antenna
However, gain. shown
at 0.8 GHz, It should be noted
in Figure 3b,that
the increasing
arms change thethe
length of the
current strips
distribu-
shifts the cut-off frequency of the antipodal antennas to lower frequency
tion significantly. At this frequency, the strip arms in the proposed structure create an- with the cost of
having a larger antenna. In this manuscript, we investigate the possibility
other resonance since they behave like a dipole antenna with electrical length of a quarter- of integrating
another resonator into the antipodal Vivaldi antenna, which could help to reduce the size
wavelength. In the structure without arms, no resonance happens at 0.8 GHz. As a result,
of antipodal Vivaldi antennas, without compromising the radiation characteristics.
at low frequencies, the additional arms contribute to the antenna miniaturization.

(a) (b)
Figure 1.
Figure 1. Antipodal
AntipodalVivaldi
Vivaldiantenna
antennaconfiguration
configurationwith
with(a)(a)different
differentwidths
widthsof of
tapered strips,
tapered andand
strips, (b)(b)
their reflection
their co-
reflection
efficient and gain.
coefficient and gain.

Figure 2 demonstrates the proposed antenna. The proposed antenna includes two
main tapered strips (conventional structure) and two additional strip arms. We will
investigate how these additional strip arms contribute to antenna size reduction. The
dimensions of the antenna are set to be 158 × 125 mm2 , which is approximately 0.38λ0 ×
0.3λ0 , where λ0 is the free space wavelength of 0.72 GHz. The proposed microstrip-fed
antenna is designed on Taconic TLT substrate with dielectric constant and thickness of
Electronics 2021, 10, 83 3 of 12

2.55 and 1 mm, respectively. In order to design a compact ultra-wideband antenna, four
exponential curves are employed. The equations of these curves are given as:

y ( x ) = a 1 e a2 x + a 3
 
upper curve

 b2 x , f or main tapered strips
 y( x ) = b1 ec x + b3 lower curve

(1)
y ( x ) = c1 e 2 + c3 upper curve
, f or additional strip arms


y ( x ) = d 1 e d2 x + d 3 lower curve


where a2 , b2 , c2 , and d2 demonstrate the degree of the exponential curves and a1 , b1 , c1 ,

d1 , a(a) (b)
3 , b3 , c3 , and d3 are related to the length and width of the arms and depend on the
Figure 1. Antipodal Vivaldiposition
antennaof the origin of
configuration the(a)
with Cartesian
different coordinate systemstrips,
widths of tapered in theand
antenna structure.
(b) their reflectionTo
co-have
efficient and gain. the optimum reflection coefficient, the values of a2 , b2 , c2 , and d2 must be optimized.

Figure 2.
Figure 2. The
The proposed
proposed Vivaldi
Vivaldiantenna
antennaconfiguration.
configuration.

As shown in Figure 2, the tapered strips and arms in the proposed antipodal tapered
Vivaldi antenna are terminated with elliptically-shaped features. The added exponential
strip arms can create another dipole-shaped resonator for surface current, in comparison
with the conventional structures (without the arms), which potentially may result in having
lower edge of impedance bandwidth reduced (antenna miniaturization) and having more
bandwidth. However, it may increase the complexity of the structure for the design
optimization. The proposed antenna optimum parameter values are given in Table 1. The
proposed structure is designed, simulated and optimized using ANSYS High Frequency
Structure Simulator (HFSS).

Table 1. Final optimum parameter values of the proposed antenna.

Parameter Value Parameter Value

Ws 158 mm m1 22 mm
Ls 125 mm m2 26 mm
Wstrip 66 mm n1 7 mm
Wt 2 mm n2 11 mm
Wg 32 mm a2 −80 mm
Lg 10 mm b2 −80 mm
s 59 mm c2 −100 mm
d 16 mm d2 −100 mm
P 7 mm

In order to further understand the behavior of the AVA structure, especially in the
lower frequencies, the current distribution of the AVA with arms (proposed structure)
and without them (conventional structure) is shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3a,
Electronics 2021, 10, 83 4 of 12

at 1.6 GHz, both structures with/without arms, approximately have the same current
distribution. However, at 0.8 GHz, shown in Figure 3b, the arms change the current
distribution significantly. At this frequency, the strip arms in the proposed structure create
another resonance since they behave like a dipole antenna with electrical length of a
Electronics 2021, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW
quarter-wavelength. In the structure without arms, no resonance happens at 0.8 GHz.4 of As12a
result, at low frequencies, the additional arms contribute to the antenna miniaturization.

(a)

(b)
Figure
Figure3.3.(a)
(a)Surface
Surfacecurrent
currentdistribution
distributionon on the
the proposed
proposed antenna structure
structure with/without
with/without additional
addi-
tional
strip strip
arms arms
at theatfrequency
the frequency
of (a)of
1.6(a) 1.6 GHz,
GHz, and (b)and
0.8(b) 0.8 GHz.
GHz.

Table 1. Final optimum

Figure 4 shows parameter valuescoefficient
the reflection of the proposed
of theantenna.
AVA structure with/without arms.
As indicated, it is easy to find that by integrating the new arms into the conventional
Parameter Value Parameter Value
structure, another resonance at 800 MHz is created which shifts the lower edge of cut-off
Ws 158 mm m1 22 mm
from 1480 MHz to 720 MHz resulting in antennas’ size reduction by 51%. As shown in
Figure 4, the new arms do not change or shift the other resonances of themm
L s 125 mm m 2 26 conventional
Wstrip
Vivaldi antenna. This is66 mm
observable by looking atn1the surface current density7 mm along the
Wt
entire structure at 1.6 GHz2in mm n2 that the integration
Figure 3a, where it is seen 11ofmm
the arms does
W 32 mm a
not change the current distribution on the main tapered strips. In addition to
g 2 −80 mm the antenna
Lg
miniaturization, 10 mmstrip arms can helpb2in improving the antenna
the additional −80 mm matching at
low frequencies.
s In fact, 59
using
mmthe extra variables cof 2 the dipole antenna mm (i.e., n2 ,
structure
−100
m2 , p, c1d, c3 , d1 , and d3 ), the
16 antenna
mm matching can be d2 better optimized. More
−100 specifically,
mm as
shown Pin Figure 4, the additional 7 mm arms improve the reflection coefficient over 2–5 GHz.

Figure 4 shows the reflection coefficient of the AVA structure with/without arms. As
indicated, it is easy to find that by integrating the new arms into the conventional struc-
ture, another resonance at 800 MHz is created which shifts the lower edge of cut-off from
1480 MHz to 720 MHz resulting in antennas’ size reduction by 51%. As shown in Figure
4, the new arms do not change or shift the other resonances of the conventional Vivaldi
antenna. This is observable by looking at the surface current density along the entire struc-
ture at 1.6 GHz in Figure 3a, where it is seen that the integration of the arms does not
change the current distribution on the main tapered strips. In addition to the antenna min-
iaturization, the additional strip arms can help in improving the antenna matching at low
frequencies. In fact, using the extra variables of the dipole antenna structure (i.e., n2, m2, p,
c1, c3, d1, and d3), the antenna matching can be better optimized. More specifically, as
shown in Figure 4, the additional arms improve the reflection coefficient over 2–5 GHz.
 tional arms need to be m2 = 26 mm. For lower values such as m2 = 10 mm, the antenna gain
drops at 4.3 GHz, and the reflection gets higher values. For higher values such as m2 = 34
mm, the reflection coefficient gets worse around 7.5 GHz. Furthermore, the degree of ex-
ponential curve of the arms affects the antenna reflection at low frequencies and antenna
Electronics 2021, 10, 83 gain at higher frequency. According to Figure 8b, this parameter needs to be set at 5 ofC12
2=

−100 for the best performance.

Figure4.4.Reflection
Figure Reflectioncoefficient
coefficientofofthe
the AVA
AVA (Antipodal
(Antipodal Vivaldi
Vivaldi antenna)
antenna) structure
structure withwith
armsarms (pro-
(proposed
posed antenna) and without arms (conventional
antenna) and without arms (conventional antenna). antenna).

To better show the effect of additional arms, the reflection coefficient at low frequencies
for conventional antenna (Vivaldi antenna without strip arms), proposed structure, and
antenna with only strip arms is plotted in Figure 5. As shown, the proposed antenna has
both resonances of conventional antenna and structure with only strip arms at around
1600 MHz and 800 MHz, respectively. The electric field distribution of the proposed
antenna above its top layer is demonstrated at different frequencies in Figure 6. As shown,
at 800 MHz, the strip arms antenna resonates and radiates and the contribution of the
main tapered strips in radiation is negligible. On the contrary, as shown in Figure 6b, the
main tapered strips radiate at 1.6 GHz, and strip arms with dipole-shaped structure do
not have any effect on the resonant frequency and radiation. As it is known, the dipole
antenna resonates at its odd harmonics. In Figure 6c, the electric field distribution of the
antenna is illustrated at 4 GHz (the 5th harmonic of the dipole structure). It can be seen
that both the dipole-shaped strip arms and tapered strips resonate and radiates. Since
these radiations at low frequencies are not in-phase, a reduction in the gain of the proposed
antenna compared to conventional antenna is expected. To demonstrate this fact, the
gain of the proposed antenna and conventional Vivaldi antenna is plotted in Figure 7. As
shown, the integration of the strip arms into the antipodal Vivaldi antenna deteriorates
the antenna gain (or antenna radiation gain) in S frequency band between 3rd and 5th
harmonics of the dipole structure. This is, however, what we expected due to the radiation
of the dipole antenna. Furthermore, because of the in-phase radiation of the dipole antenna
(at its harmonics) and tapered strips, there are frequency ranges, within which the gain of
the proposed antenna is higher than the conventional one. The minimum gain of proposed
antenna over the impedance bandwidth is better than 1 dBi that offers an appreciable gain
in lower edge of the impedance bandwidth.
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Figure 5.5.Reflection
Figure5. coefficient
coefficientof
Reflectioncoefficient the
theAVA structure with arms (proposed antenna) andand
without arms
Figure Reflection ofofthe AVA
AVA structure
structure with
with arms
arms (proposed
(proposed antenna)
antenna) without
and without
(conventional antenna),
arms(conventional and
(conventionalantenna), only
antenna),and strip
andonly arms.
onlystrip
striparms.
arms.
arms

E-field
E-field E-field
E-field
Max
Max Max
Max

Resonance
Resonance
Min
Resonance
Resonance
Min Min
Min

(a)
(a) (b)
(b)

E-field
E-field
Max
Max

Taperedstrip
Tapered strip Stripatms
Strip atms
radiation
radiation radiation
radiation
Min
Min

(c)
(c)
Figure6.6.
Figure
Figure 6.Electric
Electric field
field
Electric distribution
distribution
field above
above
distribution thetop
the
above toplayer
the layer
top ofofthe
layer the proposed
ofproposed antenna
antenna
the proposed structure
structure
antenna atat(a)
(a)0.8
structure 0.8
at
GHz,(b)
GHz, (b)1.6
1.6GHz,
GHz,and and(c)
(c)44GHz.
GHz.
(a) 0.8 GHz, (b) 1.6 GHz, and (c) 4 GHz.
 Electronics2021,
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12

Electronics 2021, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 7 of 12

Figure7.7. Gain
Figure Gain of
of the
theAVA
AVAstructure
structurewith
witharms
arms(proposed
(proposedantenna)
antenna)and
andwithout
withoutarms
arms(conventional
(conven-
tional antenna).
antenna).

As shown in Figure 8, a parametric study on the size and degree of the exponential
curves of the additional arms shows that reflection coefficient and antenna gain can be
optimized by the features of the arms. This is due to the fact that the dimensions of
the additional arms affect the amplitude and phase of current distribution. The size of
the additional arms, as expected, has more effect at the lower edge frequency band. As
shown in Figure 8a, to have a good reflection coefficient and antenna gain, the width of
the additional arms need to be m2 = 26 mm. For lower values such as m2 = 10 mm, the
antenna gain drops at 4.3 GHz, and the reflection gets higher values. For higher values
such as m2 = 34 mm, the reflection coefficient gets worse around 7.5 GHz. Furthermore, the
degree of exponential curve of the arms affects the antenna reflection at low frequencies
and antenna
Figure gain
7. Gain of the at
AVAhigher frequency.
structure According
with arms toantenna)
(proposed Figure 8b,
andthis parameter
without needs to be
arms (conven-
set at C = −
tional antenna).
2 100 for the best performance.

(a) (b)

Figure 8. Reflection coefficient and antenna gain for (other parameters are constant) (a) different
width and (b) the degree of exponential curve of the additional arms.

3. Results and Discussion

Figure 9 shows a prototype of the fabricated AVA antenna. The proposed antenna
has very simple configuration which leads to the fabrication without any complexities.
Figure 10 shows the reflection coefficient of the proposed AVA antenna. Due to antenna’s
simple configuration, an acceptable agreement between the simulated and measured re-
flection coefficient can be observed. The maximum measured reflection happens at 2.3
GHz, where a reflection coefficient of −9.4 dB is measured. The measured impedance
bandwidth of 185% has been achieved over 0.72–17 GHz with acceptable radiation char-
(a)
acteristics such as antenna gain. The gain of the proposed antenna (b) is drawn in Figure 11.
Over the
Figure measuredcoefficient
8. Reflection impedance andbandwidth
antenna gain (0.72–17 GHz),
for (other the measured
parameters antenna
are constant) (a) gain var-
different
Figure
ies 8. Reflection
between 1 dBicoefficient
and 12.5 and with
dBi antenna
the gain for (other
maximum parameters
gain around are
10 constant)
GHz. In (a) different
Figure 11, there
widthand
width and (b)thethedegree
degreeof ofexponential
exponentialcurve
curveof ofthe
theadditional
additionalarms.
arms.
are some(b) discrepancies between simulation and measurement results at higher frequen-
3. Results
cies, whichand may Discussion
be due to the measurement errors/tolerance of the measurement devices.
3. Results and Discussion
The Figure
measured 9 shows
antenna a prototype of the the
gain confirms fabricated AVA antenna.
great reliability The proposed
and performance of antenna
the pro-
has Figure
posedvery 9 shows
simple
antenna a prototype
configuration
especially of theleads
at thewhich
lower fabricated
edge theAVA
to the
of antenna.
fabrication
bandwidth. The proposed
without antenna
any complexities.
has very
Figure 10simple
The showsconfiguration
the and
simulated reflection which leads
coefficient
measured of to
radiation thethe fabrication
proposed
patterns AVA
of the without any
antenna.antenna
proposed Due complexities.
to in
antenna’s
both or-
Figure
simple 10 shows the
configuration, reflection
an coefficient
acceptable of
agreement the proposed
between theAVA antenna.
simulated
thogonal planes ZoY (H-plane) and XoY (E-plane) at 0.7, 2.4, 5.8 and 10 GHz are shown andDue to antenna’s
measured reflec-
simple
tion configuration,
coefficient can be an acceptable
observed. Theagreement
maximum between
measured the simulated
reflection
in Figure 12. As shown, there is a good agreement between simulated and measured and
happensmeasured
at 2.3 re-
GHz,
re-
flection
where coefficient
sults ina all
reflection can be observed.
coefficient At
four frequencies. of − The
9.4 dB
lower maximum
is measured.
frequencies, measured
theThe reflection
measured
antenna has aimpedancehappens
bidirectional at
bandwidth2.3
behavior
GHz,
of
with where
185% has abeen
smooth reflection
achieved
variations. coefficient
Asover of −9.4GHz
0.72–17
the operating dB is measured.
with
frequency acceptableTheradiation
increases, measured
due impedance
characteristics
to the higher order
bandwidth of 185% has been achieved over 0.72–17 GHz with acceptable radiation char-
acteristics such as antenna gain. The gain of the proposed antenna is drawn in Figure 11.
Over the measured impedance bandwidth (0.72–17 GHz), the measured antenna gain var-
ies between 1 dBi and 12.5 dBi with the maximum gain around 10 GHz. In Figure 11, there
are some discrepancies between simulation and measurement results at higher frequen-
 Electronics 2021, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 12
Electronics 2021, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 12

mode excitations,
mode excitations, the
the unwanted
unwanted ripples
ripples appear
appear in in the
the peripheries
peripheries of of the
the radiation
radiation patterns.
patterns.
Electronics 2021, 10, 83 8 of 12
The proposed antenna has the maximum gain at the main lobe in the
The proposed antenna has the maximum gain at the main lobe in the axial direction (+Y- axial direction (+Y-
direction) of
direction) of the
the tapered
tapered exponential
exponential arms.arms. Moreover,
Moreover, the the half-power
half-power beamwidth
beamwidth (HPBW)(HPBW)
of the
of theasproposed
proposed antenna decreases as the frequency increases which results in a higher
such antennaantenna
gain. Thedecreases
gain ofasthe the proposed
frequency antenna
increasesiswhich
drawn results in a higher
in Figure 11. Over
antenna
antenna gain.
gain. As
As seen
seen in
in Figure
Figure 12,
12, the
the measured
measured cross-polarization
cross-polarization levels
levels of
of the
the H- and
the measured
E-planes within
impedance
the HPBW
bandwidth
are at least
(0.72–17
20 dB
GHz),
below the
the measured antenna
corresponding
gainand
H-
co-polarizations
varies
E-planes 1within
between dBi the12.5
and HPBW dBi are atthe
with least 20 dB below
maximum gain the corresponding
around 10 GHz. Inco-polarizations
Figure 11,
which indicates
which indicates thethe extreme
extreme linearity
linearity of of polarization
polarization of of the
the fabricated
fabricated AVA.
AVA. This light- are
there
This light-
some discrepancies
weight and
and compact between
compact antenna simulation
antenna design
design provides and measurement
provides excellent
excellent matching results
matching over at higher
over aa broad frequencies,
broad frequency
frequency
weight
which may bemakes
due tothethe antenna
measurement errors/tolerance of the measurement devices.
range which most attractive for ultra-wideband
range which makes the antenna most attractive for ultra-wideband applications. The applications. The The
measured
small size antenna
size of
of the gain
the proposed confirms
proposed antenna the
antenna makes great
makes it reliability
it even
even more and
more appealingperformance
appealing for for low of the
low frequency proposed
frequency ap- ap-
small
antenna
plicationsespecially
such as at the measurement
sub-six lower edge ofsetups.the bandwidth.
plications such as sub-six measurement setups.

Figure 9.
Figure 9. Photograph
9. Photograph of
Photographof fabricated
offabricated antenna:
fabricatedantenna:
antenna:(a)(a)
(a) top
top layer
top and
layer
layer and (b)(b)
and
(b) bottom layer.
bottom
bottom layer.
layer.

Figure 10.
Figure 10. Reflection coefficient
coefficient of the proposed
proposed antenna.
antenna.
Figure 10. Reflection
Reflection coefficientofofthe
the proposed antenna.

The simulated and measured radiation patterns of the proposed antenna in both
orthogonal planes ZoY (H-plane) and XoY (E-plane) at 0.7, 2.4, 5.8 and 10 GHz are shown
in Figure 12. As shown, there is a good agreement between simulated and measured results
in all four frequencies. At lower frequencies, the antenna has a bidirectional behavior
with smooth variations. As the operating frequency increases, due to the higher order
mode excitations, the unwanted ripples appear in the peripheries of the radiation patterns.
The proposed antenna has the maximum gain at the main lobe in the axial direction (+Y-
direction) of the tapered exponential arms. Moreover, the half-power beamwidth (HPBW)
of the proposed antenna decreases as the frequency increases which results in a higher
antenna gain. As seen in Figure 12, the measured cross-polarization levels of the H- and
E-planes within the HPBW are at least 20 dB below the corresponding co-polarizations
which indicates the extreme linearity of polarization of the fabricated AVA. This lightweight
and compact antenna design provides excellent matching over a broad frequency range
which makes the antenna most attractive for ultra-wideband applications. The small size
Electronics 2021, 10, 83 9 of 12

Electronics 2021, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW

of the 9 of 12
proposed antenna makes it even more appealing for low frequency applications such
as sub-six
Electronics 2021, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW measurement setups. 9 of 12

Figure 11. Gain of the proposed antenna.

Figure 11. Gain of the proposed antenna.
Figure 11. Gain of the proposed antenna.

Figure 12. Cont.

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Figure12.
Figure
Figure 12. Simulated
12.Simulated
Simulatedand and
and measured
measured radiation
radiation patterns
patterns of the of the
the designed
designed antennaantenna
designed antenna in
in ZY
ZY(H-plane)
in ZY (H-plane)(H-plane)and
and
and XY
XY (E-plane)
(E-plane)at (a)
at 0.7
(a) GHz,
0.7 (b)
GHz, 2.4
(b) GHz,
2.4 (c)
GHz, 5.8 GHz
(c) 5.8 and
GHz (d) 10
and
XY (E-plane) at (a) 0.7 GHz, (b) 2.4 GHz, (c) 5.8 GHz and (d) 10 GHz. GHz.
(d) 10 GHz.

The
Thegroup
The groupdelay
delayis another important
is another characteristic
important for an for
characteristic ultra-wideband antenna antenna
an ultra-wideband
application
application which
whichshows
shows how the signal
how the in time
signal in domain
time is distorted
domain is by the proposed
distorted by the AVA
proposed AVA
application which shows how the signal in time domain is distorted by the proposed AVA
antenna. In this paper, two identical AVAs were placed face to face over a distance of 50
antenna.
antenna. In this paper,
paper, two identical AVAs were placed face to face over a distance ofcm
two identical AVAs were placed face to face over a distance of 50 50
cm and the measured result in Figure 13 shows that the group delay of the proposed de-
andand
cm the the
measured
measuredresult in Figure
result in 13 shows
Figure 13 that the
shows that group
the delaydelay
group of theofproposed
the design
proposed is
de-
sign is around 2 ns in the whole frequency band of interest with the variation less than ±1
around
sign is 2 ns in2the
around ns whole
in the frequency
whole band of
frequency interest
band of with the
interest withvariation
the less than
variation
ns in the most frequencies. In other words, the result demonstrates that a transmitted sig- less± 1 ns ±1
than in
thein
ns
nal most
the
will frequencies.
most
not Inaffected
frequencies.
be harmfully other words,
In other the result
by thewords,
proposed demonstrates
theantenna.
result that a transmitted
demonstrates signal will
that a transmitted sig-
not will
nal be harmfully affectedaffected
not be harmfully by the proposed antenna.antenna.
by the proposed

Figure 13. Measured group delay of the proposed antenna.

Table 2 compares the proposed AVA antenna with some recent published works in
Figure
the 13.
13. Measured
literature.
Figure group
As indicated,
Measured delay
groupthe of
of the
the proposed
performance
delay antenna.
of the proposed
proposed antenna. antenna in this paper is com-
parable with other works. The proposed antenna offers an acceptable gain all over the
Table
operating
Table 2 compares
frequency band.the proposed
Besides,
proposed AVA antenna
the impedance antennabandwidth (0.72–17
with some of the pro- works in
GHz)published
recent
posed
the antenna
the literature.
literature.As is wider than
Asindicated,
indicated,other
thethe referred
performance structures.
performance of the The maximum
proposed
of the proposed gain
antenna (12.5 dBi)
in this
antenna in of paper
paper
this is com-is
the proposed
parable
comparable antenna
withwithotherotherat X-band
works. is higher
The The
works. proposed than its
antenna
proposed counterparts.
offers
antenna Except for
an acceptable
offers the designed
an acceptablegaingain
all over the
all over
antenna
operating in [19],
the operating the
frequencyproposed
frequencyband. antenna
band. is smaller
Besides,
Besides, thethan any ofbandwidth
impedance
the impedance other structures
bandwidth listed in Table
(0.72–17
(0.72–17 GHz) GHz)
of theofpro-
the
2 which are fabricated on substrates with almost higher permittivity values. It should be
proposed
posed antenna
antenna is wider
is wider than
than other
other referredstructures.
referred structures.The Themaximum
maximumgain gain(12.5
(12.5 dBi)
dBi) of
noted that the antenna reported in [16] has a very complicated configuration and design
the proposed
the proposed antenna
antenna at X-band is higher than its counterparts. Except for the designed
procedure compared to the proposed antenna structure which makes it undesirable. In
antenna
antenna in
addition,
in [19],
the[19],
fractal
the
the proposed
proposed
structures
antenna
antenna
used
is smaller
in [16]isdeteriorate
smaller thanthan
the any
any of other
of other
linearity
structures
structures
of the antenna duelisted listed in
to in Table
Table 2
2 which are
increasing which are fabricated
thefabricated on substrates with almost higher permittivity
on substrates with almost higher permittivity values. It should
cross-polarization. values. It should
be
be noted
noted thatthat
thethe antenna
antenna reported
reported inin [16]has
[16] hasa avery
verycomplicated
complicatedconfiguration
configuration and
and design
design
procedure compared
procedure compared to to the
the proposed
proposed antenna
antenna structure
structure which
which makes
makes it it undesirable. In
undesirable. In
addition, the
addition, the fractal
fractal structures
structures used
used in
in [16]
[16] deteriorate
deteriorate the
the linearity
linearity of
of the
the antenna
antenna due
due to
to
increasing the cross-polarization.
increasing the cross-polarization.
Electronics 2021, 10, 83 11 of 12

Table 2. Comparison between some AVAs and TSAs (tapered slot antennas) in literature and the
proposed antipodal Vivaldi antenna.

Operating Impedance Min and

Ref No. εr Size (λ20 )
Frequency (GHz) BW (%) MaxGain (dBi)
[15] 4.5 0.67 × 0.89 4–30 152 5&7
[16] 2.6 0.39 × 0.4 1.3–17 171 3.5&9.3
[17] 4.4 0.39 × 0.48 2.4–14 141 3.7&10
[18] 3.5 0.37 × 0.43 0.8–9.8 170 0&10.5
[19] 4.4 0.22 × 0.27 1.3–20 176 −2&10
This work 2.5 0.3 × 0.38 0.72–17 184 1&12.5
λ0 : Free space wavelength at the lowest operating frequency.

There are several techniques to increase the Vivaldi antenna gain. Several researchers
have introduced different methods to increase the antenna directivity [20–23]. Various lens
structures such as metamaterial-loaded [21], fractal inspired [22], and phase adjusted [23]
structures were proposed to be placed in front of the radiating area to improve the antenna
directivity and radiation characteristics of Vivaldi antennas. Using one of these techniques
could increase the directivity of the proposed antenna if higher gain is required.

4. Conclusions
The presented AVA antenna employs extra exponential strip arms with elliptical-
shape termination, to reduce the lower edge of the operating frequency bandwidth. The
decrease in the low-end operating band demonstrates that the proposed structure can
effectively miniaturize the size of the Vivaldi antennas. It provides an impedance frequency
bandwidth of around 185%. Moreover, the modified AVA presents an appreciable gain
all over the band of interest. A good agreement between simulated and measured results
illustrates that the proposed antenna is a good candidate for ultra-wideband measuring
systems or other communication applications.

Author Contributions: M.M.H. has designed and fabricated the antenna structure. M.M.H. and
M.S.G. have measured the antenna and wrote the manuscript. R.M. supervised the project, con-
tributed to discussion, and reviewed the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the
published version of the manuscript.
Funding: This work was supported by the Testforce Systems Inc., Alberta Innovative Technology
Futures (AITF) and the Canadian National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) under
the NSERC-AITF Industrial Chair Program.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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