This material is posted here with permission of the IEEE. Internal or personal use of this material is permitted.

However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution must be obtained from the IEEE by writing to pubs-permissions@ieee.org. By choosing to view this document, you agree to all provisions of the copyright laws protecting it.

Copyright 2003 IEEE. Reprinted from The Proceedings of the 2003 IEEE UWBST Conference

http://www.uwbantenna.com

FREQUENCY NOTCHED UWB ANTENNAS

Hans Gregory Schantz* (h.schantz@ieee.org), Glenn Wolenec* (gwolenec@hiwaay.net), & Edward Mickel Myszka III** (mmyszka@hiwaay.net) * Next-RF, Inc.; 4811 Cove Creek Drive; Brownsboro, AL 35741; ** Teledyne Brown Engineering; 300 Sparkman Drive NW; Huntsville, AL 35805
ABSTRACT
This paper describes a method for creating frequency notches in an otherwise ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna element. By deliberately introducing a narrow band resonant structure, an antenna may be made insensitive to particular frequencies. This technique is useful for creating UWB antennas with narrow frequency notches, or for creating multi-band antennas. potentially complicated, expensive, and bulky tuning system that may not be commercially optimal. A better technique is to create a single antenna that is responsive to multiple narrow bands of interest. Such an antenna is a composite structure of narrow band resonant sections that can couple to the corresponding narrow bands of interest. The concept behind such a system is illustrated in Figure 1. A typical multi-band antenna is a conglomeration of a variety of narrowband structures. For instance, the multiband antenna of Figure 1 is composed of: a low band structure with a spectral response that is resonant around a center frequency fA, a mid-band structure with a spectral response that is resonant around a center frequency fC, and a high-band structure with a spectral response that is resonant around a center frequency fE. Thus, the multi-band antenna of Figure 1 has a spectral response that is resonant at a low frequency fA, a mid frequency fC, and a high frequency fD. This antenna is not responsive at a typical frequency fB between fA and fC nor is it responsive at a typical frequency fD between fC and fE. The approach shown in Figure 1 is fraught with difficulties and disadvantages. Although narrowband resonant structures may individually be quite responsive to their particular narrowband resonant frequencies of interest (fA, fC and fD, respectively), when combined together to form a composite multi-band antenna the performance of narrowband resonant components will inevitably suffer. In particular, mutual coupling is introduced between narrowband resonant components. This coupling can lead to spurious and undesired modes of operation as well as limit the performance of the desired modes. To some extent, this mutual coupling and interaction can be compensated for, but in general, overall performance of a composite multi-band antenna will suffer relative to the performance achievable from individual resonant components individually operating at their particular narrowband resonant frequencies of interest (fA, fC and fD, respectively). A composite multiband antenna is a case in which the whole is less than the sum of its parts.

1. INTRODUCTION
Contemporary antenna designers face a variety of interesting challenges. One is the impending widespread deployment of ultra-wideband or UWB systems. Such systems use vast expanses of bandwidth in their operation, leaving them vulnerable to whatever narrowband sources of interference might exist in their environment. A second problem is the increasing commercial demand for multi-band systems. These systems combine a variety of different narrow band operational modes in the same device: for instance, a cellular phone that can utilize cell phone frequencies around 850 MHz, as well as PCS frequencies around 1900 MHz. For economic and cosmetic reasons, it is desirable that a multi-band device be able to use a single antenna that can function at potentially widely separated narrow bands of interest. These two disparate problems have been addressed before, but in less than satisfactory fashion. For instance, other investigators have approached this goal using a genetic algorithm approach [1]. The aim of the present paper is to demonstrate how multi-banding and frequency notching can be deliberately designed into an antenna from first principles.

2. MULTI-BAND ANTENNAS
A variety of techniques have been used to create multi-band antennas. Perhaps the simplest technique is to use a tuned antenna. Such an antenna relies on a variable reactance such as a variable capacitor or variable inductance to create a resonance that makes the antenna effective over a particular narrow band of interest. Even with the advent of more sophisticated micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), tuned antennas require a

Figure 1: A typical multi-band antenna is composed of multiple narrowband components.

Figure 2: A typical frequency notched UWB antenna system combines a UWB element with a notch filter.

3. UWB ANTENNAS WITH FREQUENCY NOTCH FILTERS

Similarly, attempts have been made to create ultrawideband antenna systems that are insensitive to particular frequencies. Such a frequency notched UWB antenna system is shown in Figure 2. A typical system comprises a UWB antenna element, connected via a transmission line to a frequency filter. In the example of Figure 2, a UWB antenna element has a frequency response sensitive across an ultra-wideband range of frequencies from fA to fE. A frequency notch filter passes an ultra-wideband range of frequencies from fA to fE with the exception of those frequencies in the vicinity of fB and fD. The resulting spectral response of a frequency notched UWB antenna system is sensitive to an ultra-wideband range of frequencies from fA to fE with the exception of those frequencies in the vicinity of fB and fD. Frequencies in the vicinity of fB and fD. are notched out of the overall spectral response, and a frequency notched UWB antenna system may be coupled via an output to an appropriate transmitter, receiver, or transceiver. Note that the UWB antenna element and frequency notch filter are distinct entities separated by a transmission line. This means that the cost and complexity of a frequency notched UWB antenna system will be greater than the cost of implementing a non-notched UWB antenna system.

4. FREQUENCY NOTCHED UWB ANTENNAS

Many antennas with UWB performance are available. One of the most interesting UWB antennas for commercial applications is the planar elliptical dipole. These antennas are highly efficient [2] and they have many desirable properties including excellent impedance matching, dipole pattern, and a uniform, UWB frequency response across at least a 3:1 range in frequencies [3]. Nevertheless, this same desirable UWB response leaves a UWB planar elliptical dipole element open to interference by receiving a narrowband source of interference, or potentially, to cause interference by transmitting in a particular narrow band being used by a neighboring RF system. For instance, it may be desirable to collocate a UWB receiver and a relatively high power narrowband system. The high power narrowband signals will be prone to cause interference to the collocated UWB receiver. Alternatively, perhaps it is desired to collocate a UWB transmitter and a sensitive narrowband receiver. Then the UWB system may be prone to cause interference with the narrowband receiver under some circumstances. In either case, it is desirable to have a UWB antenna system that is not sensitive to one or more narrow bands of interest. Such an antenna may be created following the method shown in Figure 3. Narrowband resonant structures are incorporated in a UWB antenna element so as to create a frequency notched UWB antenna element.

Figure 3: Combining a UWB antenna element with narrowband resonant structures can yield a frequency notched UWB antenna element.

One way to implement a frequency notched UWB antenna is to incorporate a half wave resonant structure in an antenna. A variety of implementations are possible, two of which are shown in Figure 4.

Similarly, an elliptical notch UWB antenna element has a frequency notch where the arc length L forms a half wavelength resonant structure. When the L path is a half wavelength at a particular frequency, a destructive interference takes place causing the antenna to be nonresponsive at that frequency. To evaluate this concept, the authors created a test matrix of various triangular notch and elliptical notch dipoles. The triangular notch antennas are described by the notch width angle W and the notch angle N. For instance, antenna 1030 has notch width angle W = 10 and notch angle N = 30. Similarly, the elliptical notch antennas are described as a percentage of the outer circumference. For instance, C70 has an elliptical arc length L equal to 70% of the outer circumference of the element. The theoretical notch frequency is determined by the frequency at which A+N is a half wavelength for the triangular notch dipoles. For the elliptical notch dipoles, the theoretical notch frequency is the frequency at which L is a half wavelength. Although the antennas were constructed on a Rogers RO-4003 dielectric with r = 3.38, free space propagation was assumed since the electromagnetic energy propagates predominantly in the free space around the antennas. Experimental results for the triangular notch dipoles are shown in Figure 5. Notches of 10-20 dB were achieved with fractional bandwidths of 3-8%. Measured null frequencies were generally within 10% of the theoretical prediction, but because all the members of the matrix had similar dimensions, it was difficult to distinguish between them based on frequency response.

Figure 4: A triangular notch (left) and an elliptical notch (right) geometry both incorporate a quarter wave narrowband resonant structure in a UWB antenna element. A triangular notch UWB antenna element has a frequency notch where the arc length A and the notch length N add up to form a half wavelength resonant structure. When the A + N path is a half wavelength at a particular frequency, a destructive interference takes place causing the antenna to be non-responsive at that frequency.

Figure 5: Boresight gain for a variety of triangular notch dipoles (left) and the triangular notch antenna matrix (right).

Figure 6: Boresight gain for a variety of elliptical notch dipoles (left) and the elliptical notch antenna matrix (right). Experimental results for the elliptical notch dipoles are shown in Figure 6. Notches of 20-30 dB were achieved with fractional bandwidths of around 25%. Measured null frequency was generally within 10% of the theoretical prediction. The null width is related to the path difference between the inner and outer edges of the elliptical notch. Thus a narrower gap should result in a smaller null bandwidth. Measurements are compared to theoretical predictions in Table 1. Additional details and embodiments have been described elsewhere in conjunction with a pending U.S. patent application [4]. Notch Freq (GHz): Measured Theory Delta (%) 2.44 2.52 -3.3 2.48 2.64 -6.1 2.50 2.73 -8.4 2.64 2.56 3.2 2.71 2.92 -7.2 2.20 2.37 -7.4 2.61 2.72 -3.8 3.08 2.99 2.9 3.79 4.23 -10.4 Null Null BW% Depth(dB) 2.8 9.9 6.3 15.1 8.1 17.9 3.4 12.2 13.2 24.8 24.1 29.4 25.1 22.5 25.5 23.3 25.0 17.5

5. CONCLUSIONS
In short, it is often desirable to have a single UWB antenna with a notched frequency response. Such an antenna could offer multi-band narrowband coverage, as well as an ultra-wideband response with particular narrow bands notched out. In general, performance of a UWB system deteriorates with increasing number of spectral notches, but a system designer may be able to accept one or perhaps two as part of an overall compatibility and interference strategy. The examples shown in the present paper show two of the many ways in which one can introduce a narrowband resonance in an ultra-wideband antenna so as to create a desired frequency notching behavior.

Antenna 1015 1030 1530 530 1060 C90 C80 C70 C60

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The work presented in this paper was performed while the authors were employed by the Time Domain Corporation. The cooperation and assistance of the Time Domain Corporation are gratefully acknowledged.

7. REFERENCES
[1] A. Kerkhoff & H. Ling, Design of a Planar Monopole Antenna for Use With Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Having a Band-Notched Characteristic, IEEE APS 2003. [2] H. Schantz, Radiation Efficiency of UWB Antennas IEEE UWBST 2002. [3] H. Schantz, Planar Elliptical Element Ultra-Wideband Dipole Antennas IEEE APS 2002. [4] H. Schantz & G. Wolenec, Ultra-Wideband Antenna Having Frequency Selectivity, U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2003/0090436 A1.

Table 1: Measurements vs theoretical prediction for frequency notched UWB antennas.