The Design, Development and Validation of wideband spiral antenna

12.01.13 Presentation

Scope of the Work

To design and develop left hand circular polarized wideband spiral antenna from 1GHz to 18GHz To validate the designed antennas by fabrication and testing the prototypes for radiation pattern, axial ratio, VSWR and gain.

Wideband Spiral antenna

Design Goal
Frequency Return Loss Polarization Gain : 1GHz to 18GHz : Better than 7.36 dB : LHCP : -16dBi at 1GHz -6dBi at 2GHz -0dBi at 4-18GHz : 80 degree : 5 degree max across 1-18GHz : -20dB max : 2W : SMA jack : Hemispherical

3dB beam width Beam squint Back lobe level Power handling Connector Type of Radome

Antenna Chosen to meet the above Design Goals: Archimedean spiral Antenna

Project solution approach

Calculation of design parameters Calculation of dimensions for balun Design of spiral antenna Design of balun

Optimization
Simulation of spiral antenna Integration of balun with spiral antenna

Simulation of designed balun

Simulation of integrated structure

Back cavity and absorbers in integrated spiral antenna

Simulation of integrated final structure

Optimization

Validation of final structure

Proposed topology
Side view
Spiral antenna Tapered balun Absorbers Back cavity Co-axial connector

Top view

Advantage of Archimedean spiral Improved axial ratio Wider operating bandwidth with a give antenna diameter

Spiral Antenna - Theory

Spiral antennas are frequency independent antennas with circular polarization radiation at its broadside. In Archimedean spiral antenna each arm is fed 180 degree out of phase, dual arm has symmetrical radiation pattern and better axial ratio compared to single arm Archimedean spiral antenna.

For a given diameter of an antenna greater bandwidth is obtained with more tightly wounded spirals.
Planar Archimedean spiral antenna is widely used due to its low profile, light weight, high efficiency, circular polarization, stable impedance characteristics and broad bandwidth.

Design parameters in the spiral antenna: Inner radius Outer radius Spacing between the turns Width of the arm Inner radius: High frequency is determined through inner radius of the spiral. c f low 2Routerradius
Practically value differs due to reflection from end of the spiral

Spiral Antenna - Design

Outer radius: Low frequency is determined through outer radius of the spiral. c f high 2Rinnerradius
Practically value differs due to feed region effect

An impedance matching section is needed to match two different characteristic impedance of spiral antenna and co-axial transmission line. Since it radiates bi-directionally a cavity filled absorbers are used to have unidirectional radiation pattern.

Layout Model
Spiral antenna Spiral antenna with absorbers

The layout of the two arm spiral antenna was simulated using a FDTD based Simulator (CST microwave Studio)

Return loss
Simulated Return loss Return loss with absorbers

Frequency (GHz)

Return loss in dB specification

< -7.36 < -7.36 < -7.36 < -7.36 < -7.36 < -7.36

Simulated value
-6.73 -8.78 -11.82 -14.95 -9.92 -5.82

Frequency (GHz)

Return loss in dB specification

< -7.36 < -7.36 < -7.36 < -7.36 < -7.36 < -7.36

Measured value
-8.13 -10.51 -13.43 -17.13 -6.33 -4.145

1 3 5 10 15 18

1 3 5 10 15 18

3 D Radiation pattern
Spiral antenna without absorbers
Freq 1GHz Freq 5GHz Freq 10GHz

Freq 15GHz

Freq 20GHz

3 D Radiation pattern
Freq 1GHz

Spiral antenna with absorbers

Freq 5GHz Freq 10GHz

Freq 15GHz

Freq 18GHz

Freq 20GHz

Tapered balun
Tapered balun front view and back view: Return loss:

Modified spiral antenna

Spiral antenna modified structure: Return loss:

Radiation pattern: