Jushua D.

Ramos ECE07
BSECE IV – GG MW 15:00 – 16:30

Seatwork Finals
Research at least 3 different antenna design that is being used for satellite
communications. Your source/references should be published research papers from
journals or conferences. Describe in detail how each antenna works, its limitations, and
its advantages.
Design and Simulation of Elliptical Micro strip Patch Antenna with Coaxial Probe
Feeding for Satellites Applications Using Matlab
How each antenna works?

High-performance systems including rockets, ships, missiles, and satellites use

elliptical microstrip patch antennas (EMSPA). In this study, a coaxial probe feed
mechanism is applied and processed in an innovative antenna at a standard Industrial,
Scientific, and Medical (ISM) radio band frequency. The inner conductor of the coaxial
connector is soldered to the radiating patch using this technique, while the outer
conductor is soldered to the ground plane. The researcher created a comparison table
for the default and proposed EMSPA designs and standards.

Parameter and Elliptical Microstrip Patch Antenna

Description Default Proposed
Operating frequency 5.45 GHz 2.35 GHZ and 2.4 to 2.5
GHz
Major axis 30 mm 33.5 mm
Minor axis 20 mm 18.8 mm
Height 1.6 mm 6.6 mm
Substrate material Air FR-4
Dielectric constant 1 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, and 4.8
Loss tangent 0 0.02
Feed offset [4.7 4.5] mm [-5.2 0] mm
Ground plane length 45 mm 100 mm
Ground plane width 45 mm 100 mm

The goal of this antenna is to create a device that can provide higher gain and
lower S11 at several operating frequencies, including 2.35 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 2.45 GHz, and
2.5 GHz. To assess its performance characteristics, it is developed and simulated using
MATLAB. The antenna becomes circularly polarized wave radiators once the elliptical
microstrip patches are optimized.

According to the study's s-parameters plot, the S11 has a low reflection coefficient
as the 𝜀𝑟 value grows, therefore it works perfectly at varied FR-4 substrate values and is
suited for the applications listed. Furthermore, the proposed antenna has outstanding
gain values at all required frequencies and all FR-4 substrate values. The EMSPA
features fewer s-parameters, a high gain value, and good bandwidth due to its probe feed
mechanism and varied relative permittivity.

Limitations
Because of the hard restrictions of decreasing in extent independently from huge
bandwidth and advanced data rates, the integration of the coaxial probe feed approach
at those ISM bands with EMSPA is done in this study.

Advantages
1. The coaxial feed, also known as a probe feed, is a feed that can be inserted
anywhere inside the patch to match its input impedance.
2. It is simple to make.
3. The antenna uses a multiband frequency, which makes it ideal for wireless
applications.
4. The antenna performs admirably in terms of radiating at all operating frequencies
with high radiation efficiency.

Reference
Prakasam, V., & Reddy, N. (2020). Design and Simulation of Elliptical Micro strip Patch
Antenna with Coaxial Probe Feeding for Satellites Applications Using Matlab. 2020
Fourth International Conference on I-SMAC (IoT in Social, Mobile, Analytics and
Cloud) (I-SMAC). doi:10.1109/i-smac49090.2020.9243472
Design and Simulation of a Back Fire Bifilar Helix Antenna for UHF Lower Earth
Orbit Satellite Communication
How each antenna works?
Due to its simplicity and compact antenna, the back fire bifilar helix antenna is
employed in this study for ultra high frequency (UHF) lower earth orbit satellite
communication. It is disclosed that the shield section of the cable has two helically wound
conductors made of coaxial cable. One of the conductors' coaxial cables serves as a
transmission line for signal transmission to the antenna's feed end, with its center
conductor attached to the shield of the other conductor cable. Conductive surface layers
applied to the shield section of the conductors at the feed end can be used to change the
antenna's nominal input impedance to the desired value.
The developed antenna emphasizes angles, primary beam tilt, and gain as
essential characteristics in this work. The bifilar antenna produces a beam directed along
with the structure toward the feed point when it is operated at the cutoff frequency of the
primary mode of the helical waveguide. The two such springs are intertwined with their
center lines coincident in the number of wire elements. There is no ground plane since
the bifilar helix is activated by equal and opposite currents on the two strands. To reach
equilibrium potential, however, a balun is required. It's in backfire if the greatest radiation
is more or less in the –x direction.

Limitations
According to the simulated results of the study, the antenna design provides
VSWR < 2 from 240 MHz to 320 MHz. Overall antenna gain ranges from 5.0982 to
6.7349, indicating that downlink frequencies have higher values than uplink frequencies.
Furthermore, as the frequency rises from 240 to 320 MHz, the 3 dB beamwidth increases
while the side lobe level falls. Furthermore, when compared to uplink frequencies, the
major lobe magnitude values are higher at downlink frequencies.
Because the satellite's position is fixed in relation to the earth's orbit, the look
angles and gain needs are critical considerations for satellite communications. The gain
required in the UHF band is lower because of the working frequency range, which makes
beamwidth more important. Another area to think about is high-pressure radome. The
size of an antenna is not a constraint in LEO satellite applications, but it must function
well.

Advantages
1. The bandwidth increases as the frequency rise from 240 MHz to 320 MHz, while
the side lobe level decreases.
 2. The antenna is attractive for satellite applications since it does not require a ground
plane.
3. A quadrature hybrid circuit is not required because the bifilar helix is not resonant.
4. The backfire bifilar helical antenna can also be utilized to feed the parabolic
reflectors more effectively.
5. Great efficiency, small size in the S-band, and extreme simplicity lead to high
reliability.

Reference
Rao, K. C., & Rao, P. M. (2017). Design and simulation of a back fire bifilar helix antenna
for UHF lower earth orbit satellite communication. 2017 International Conference
on Communication and Signal Processing
(ICCSP). doi:10.1109/iccsp.2017.8286719
A Printed Quadrifilar-Helical Antenna for Ku-Band Mobile Satellite
Communication Terminal
How each antenna works?
The mobile terminal of the satellite communication system employs a printed
quadrifilar-helical antenna (PQHA) which is capable of receiving satellite communication
signals on a variety of mobile platforms including ships, vehicles, aircraft, and handset
receivers. As for the antenna's feeding network, a compact Wilkinson power divider is
utilized. High gain, wide beam, and wide-angle circular polarization are among the
characteristics of the designed antenna. The antenna's relative bandwidth is 8%, making
it suitable for numerous Ku-band satellite communication systems. Three-proof quality is
attained without compromising the antenna's radiating qualities when the construction
and material are improved. Lower VSWR, improved zenith gain, and axial ration along
the entire azimuth angle are some of these benefits.
Furthermore, according to this research, the classic quadrifilar-helical antenna is
wound with metal wire and fed by slotted coaxial lines, the structure is heavy and
unstable, and the working band is small. The PQHA antenna is made up of four (4) parallel
arms that are printed on a thin, flexible dielectric substrate, resulting in a significantly
lighter antenna. The Wilkinson power divider, as a newly introduced phase distribution
technique, is used in the design mechanism. The testing results in the antenna are good
and sufficient for mobile communication terminals because of the new procedure
implemented.

Limitations
The research is limited to operating in the Ku band's superior performance in the
fields of automobile communication, civil aviation communication, and satellite TV
transmission. Because it can affect the winding direction of the helical arms and the
antenna's radiation performance, the antenna is designed to work in left-hand circular
polarization (LHCP) mode. The polarization purity is high, effectively suppressing ground
clutter.
The working band for a Wilkinson power divider feeding technique is only 12–13
GHz. Isolation resistance will dissipate the reflecting power in the case of an impedance
mismatch. As a result, the isolation between adjacent ports is improved, overcoming the
traditional lossless T power divider's inherent port crosstalk problem.

Advantages
1. High circular polarization purity
2. Lightweight
3. Ease of fabrication
 4. Low cost
5. The Wilkinson power divider ensures a consistent power distribution while also
expanding the working band.
6. When the output port impedance is matched, the Wilkinson power divider
consumes no power.

Reference
Mengmeng, C., & Weina, H. (2017). A printed quadrifilar-helical antenna for Ku-band
mobile satellite communication terminal. 2017 IEEE 17th International Conference
on Communication Technology (ICCT). doi:10.1109/icct.2017.8359739