Electrically Small Planar (Flat) Antennas

Prof. Hao Ling Dr. Hosung Choo Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Problem
Limited Real Estate for Antennas in Wireless Terminals
Wireless PC Card (1.9 GHz) HF Communication (30 MHz)

2.7 cm x 5 cm

Full-size whip 2.5 m

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Problems with Antenna Miniaturization

As the size of an antenna is reduced: 1) Input resistance drops 2) Bandwidth drops 3) Efficiency drops

Impacts link quality, information throughput, range of coverage, and battery life.
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Fundamental Limit for Small Antennas

Fundamental Limit (L. J. Chu, 1948)
[1] Quarter-wave length whip [2] Goubau (1976)

Bandwidth (%)

100 50 30 20 0.6

[2] [4] [3] [1]

[3] Foltz (1998)

0.8

1.2

1.6

Size kr (=2(r/))

[4] Rogers (2001)

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Solution
A class of electrically small, planar antennas with size kr in the range of 0.2 to 0.5
350 MHz (size kr=0.26)

3.5cm

PCS Card: 1.9 GHz 0.64 cm (vs. 3.9 cm) Tank Whip Antenna: 30 MHz 41 cm (vs. 2.5 m)

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2.7 cm

PCS Card 1.9 GHz 0.64 cm

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Features
Small (size kr between 0.2 and 0.5) Easy to redesign to meet different requirements (frequency, bandwidth, size) Antennas are well-matched to 50-ohm RF systems Bandwidth and efficiency performances closely track the fundamental limits
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Feature 1: Easy to Design

Initial Shapes Genetic Algorithm Reproduction Crossover Mutation Design Goal

CEM Software

Optimized Shape
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Design methodology based on computational electromagnetics software and genetic optimization

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Match Between Theory and Measurement

400 MHz (size kr=0.36)

10 9 8 7 6

1.0

0.8

5 4 3 2 1 0 394

3.5cm

396

398

400

402

404

406

408

410

Frequency (MHz)

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Efficiency

VSWR

Feature 2: Matches to Standard 50 System

Antenna Structure
R
0.0880

Circuit Model
Antenna feed
1.06e-8

Antenna body
M
C R

1.1308e-12 2.4

Z in = Z antenna +
feed

2M
Z antenna
body

Inductively coupled feed

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Feature 3: Bandwidth and Efficiency Close to the Fundamental Limit

2 1.5

Bandwidth log(%)

Fundamental Limit

0.5

-0.5

-1 0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Antenna size (kr)

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Benefits
Compact and planar. Easy to design and construct, low cost. Preserves link quality, coverage area, and battery life. Can be used as elements in a multi-antenna array to further improve link.

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Technology Differentiation
Smallest planar antennas having performance numbers that approach the fundamental limits. Highly flexible design methodology based on genetic algorithm.
Antenna Goubou (1976) Rogers (2001) Foltz (1998) Ours (2003) Size kr 1.00 0.68 0.63 0.2 - 0.5 Figure-of-Merit 0.80 0.66 0.58 0.2 - 0.4 Complexity 3 -D 3 -D 3 -D Planar
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Current Market
Wireless communications such as
Cellular handsets Other personal communications devices Game sets RFID tags and tracking devices Smart cards

Other applications
Automobile antennas Military applications
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Current Status/Future Directions

Technology development
Focused on HF band non-line-of-sight communications

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Non-Line-of-Sight Communication for DARPAs Unattended Ground Sensor Program

30MHz (size kr=0.2)
- HF GA Antenna - Standard Monopole

30cm

Transmission Loss (dB)

0 Dry Soil Wet Soil -20 -40 -60 -80 -100 -120 -140

Nevada Test Site

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102

103

104

Range (m)

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Current Status/Future Directions

Technology development.
Focused on HF band non-line-of-sight communications

Intellectual property
UT provisional patent filed 6/12/03

Next steps
Continue to build up a portfolio of antenna patents License/beta customers/research $
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