Travelling Wave and Broadband

Antennas / Frequency –
Independent Antenna
Travelling wave
• is transfer energy from one place to another, without transferring the
matter.
Folded Dipole

• consists of a two parallel half-wave dipoles connected

at the ends forming a narrow wire loop
• Feed point is at the center
• Modes of current
1. Transmission line mode
- fields from the current cancel in the far field
𝐿
𝑍𝑡 = 𝑗𝑍0 𝑡𝑎𝑛β
2
2. Antenna line mode
- fields from the current reinforce in the far field
4𝑍𝑡 𝑍𝑑
𝑍𝑡 =
𝑍𝑡 + 2𝑍𝑑
• Half wave folded dipole
𝑍𝐴 = 4𝑍𝑑
- it provides a four field increase in impedance over the dipole
version

• At resonance, the impedance of a half-wave dipole antenna is

approximately 70 Ohms, so that the input impedance for a half-wave
folded dipole antenna is roughly 280 Ohms.
• Often used for twin-lead transmission lines
There are a number of advantages or reasons for using a folded dipole
antenna:
1. Increase in impedance
2. Wide bandwidth
• Applications
1. FM radio antennas
2. As driven elements for rooftop Yagi television antennas
Yagi Uda
• simple to construct and has a high gain, typically greater than 10 dB.
• operate in the HF to UHF bands (about 3 MHz to 3 GHz)
• invented in Japan, with results first published in 1926
• work was originally done by Shintaro Uda,
but published in Japanese.
• presented for the first time in English
by Yagi
Elements of Yagi
1. Driven element - power is applied;
a half wave dipole or often a folded
dipole
2. Reflector - behind the main driven
element
3. Director - placed in front of the driven
element
Advantages
1. Antenna has gain allowing lower strength signals to be received.
2. Yagi antenna has directivity enabling interference levels to be
minimized.
3. Straightforward construction.
4. The construction enables the antenna to be mounted easily on
vertical and other poles with standard mechanical fixings
Disadvantages
1. For high gain levels the antenna becomes very long
2. Gain limited to around 20dB or so for a single antenna
Long Wire
• random wire antennas
• require a length greater than a quarter-wavelength (λ/4) of the radio
waves
• The radiation pattern of a straight random wire antenna is
unpredictable and depends on its electrical length
• Above the 0.6λ results in four azimuth angles at which the gain is
maximum. As the length of wire in wavelengths increases, the
number of lobes increases and the maxima become increasingly
sharp.
Biconical Antenna
• a broad-bandwidth antenna made of two roughly conical conductive
objects, nearly touching at their points.
• For an infinite antenna, the characteristic impedance at the point of
connection is a function of the cone angle only and is independent of
the frequency.
• Practical antennas have finite length and
a definite resonant frequency.
Triangular sheet, Bow Tie and Wire Simulation
Geometrical approximation that make the structure can be lighter and
smaller retaining desired electrical features
1. triangular sheet
2. bow tie
3. wire simulation
• The triangular sheet and bow tie antennas are geometrical
approximations to the solid or shell conical or biconical antenna.
• Wires are simulated along the periphery of its surface reduces
significantly the weight and wind resistance of the structure
• computed input impedances and radiation patterns of wire bow-tie
antennas computed using Moment Method
Helical Antenna
• is a travelling wave antenna in the shape of a
corkscrew that produces radiation along the
axis of the helix antenna.
The parameters of the helix antenna are defined below.
• D - Diameter of a turn on the helix antenna.
• C - Circumference of a turn (C=pi*D).
• S - Vertical separation between turns
• , pitch angle, which controls how far the helix
antenna grows in the z-direction per turn
• N - Number of turns on the helix antenna.
• H - Total height of helix antenna, H=NS
Operating principle
1. normal mode
2. axial mode
In the normal mode or broadside helix,
1. the dimensions of the helix (the diameter and the pitch) are small
compared with the wavelength.
2. the antenna acts similarly to an electrically short dipole or
monopole, and the radiation pattern, similar to these antennas is
omnidirectional, with maximum radiation at right angles to the
helix axis
3. These are used for compact antennas for portable and mobile two-
way radios, and for UHF television broadcasting antennas.
In the axial mode or end-fire helix,
1. the dimensions of the helix are comparable to a wavelength.
2. The antenna functions as a directional antenna radiating a beam
off the ends of the helix, along the antenna's axis. It radiates
circularly polarized radio waves.
3. These are used for satellite communication.
input impedance half-power beamwidth is

maximum directive gain beamwidth between nulls is

is approximately

use C=λ S=0.23*C, G=0.8*N

References
• http://pediaa.com/difference-between-stationary-and-progressive-waves/
• http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/antennas/dipole/folded_dipole.php
• http://www.antenna-theory.com/antennas/foldeddipole.php
• http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/antennas/yagi/yagi.php
• Straw, R. Dean (2003). The ARRL Antenna Book, 20th Edition. Newington, Connecticut, USA: The ARRL, Inc. p. 944. ISBN 0-87259-
904-3.
• Practical Antenna Handbook (Carr, Mc Graw Hill) - Chapter 9
• Silver, Ward (2007). The ARRL General Class License Manual, 6th Ed. USA: American Radio Relay League. p. 6.6. ISBN 978-
0872599963.
• Zhuohui Zhang,Analysis and design of a broadband antenna for software defined radio, ProQuest, 2007
• http://www.antenna-theory.com/antennas/wideband/bowtie.php
• http://www.antenna-theory.com/antennas/travelling/helix.php
• Tomasi, Wayne (2004). Electronic Communication Systems - Fundamentals Through Advanced. Jurong, Singapore: Pearson
Education SE Asia Ltd. ISBN 981-247-093-X.
• Balanis, Constantine (2005). Antenna Theory Analysis and Design, 3rd Edition.John Wiley & Sons. Inc. Hoboken, New Jersey
Travelling Wave Antennas
• Composed of Transmission line structures that radiate.
• By designing the length, the bandwidth and the gain can be varied
• By designing the size and shape of the structure, beamwidth and
polarization can be controlled.
Discone and Conical Skirt
Monopole
 Discone Antenna

• Modification of the Dipole

• A coaxial line is fed at the
Center of the cone.
• Formed by Disk and Cone
 Discone Antenna
Characteristics :
• Omnidirectional
• Polarization: Vertical
• Similar Radiation pattern to a Dipole.
• Performance as a function of frequency
is similar to a high pass filter.
• Can operate over frequency ranges of up to 10:1
• Low angle of radiation
 Physical Aspects
• Cone Element
-should be a quarter wavelength at the minimum operating
Frequency.
75000
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑒 = 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝑀𝐻𝑧
 Physical Aspects
• Disc
- Must have an overall length of 0.7 times a quarter wavelength.
52250
Disc = millimeters
Frequency MHz

- The Smaller the Diameter the higher the frequency.

 Physical Aspects
• Space Between the cone and disc
-For VHF/UHF region it is around 15 millimeters.
• Insulator
- Separates the disc and the cone
Discone Antenna
Radiation Pattern at 7MHz
Radiation Pattern at 14MHz
Radiation Pattern at 21MHz
Radiation Pattern at 28MHz
 Application
• Military
• Amateur Radio
• Radio Scanner
• UHF and VHF communication
 Conical Skirt Monopole
• Similar to Discone except the disk is replaced by a monopole
which usually has a measure of quarter wavelength .
• Its behavior is similar to a discone.
 Sleeve Antenna
• Radio Wave Antenna
• Used for both transmitter and receiver.
• Composed of a 2 elements:
-Straight Metal element(rod or wire)
-Straight Metal Tube(sleeve)
 Sleeve Antenna
Notable Characteristics:
1. Can Receive and transmit Wide range of Radio Frequencies
2. Flexible. Can be classified as:
-dipole antennas
-half wave dipole
-omnidirectional antennas
-coaxial antennas
3. Sturdier.
 Application
Used in High Frequency band applications:
• CB radio Base station
• Maritime ship to shop and ship to shore radio antennas
 Spiral Antenna
Characteristics:
• Has very large bandwidth.
• Fractional bandwidth as high as 30:1
• Circularly polarized
• HPBW is approx. 70-90 degrees
 Log-Periodic Spiral Antenna
• Also known as equiangular spiral antenna.
• 1954, Edwin Turnur played with dipole antenna.
• Has wide beamwidth with angle less than 70 degrees

Log-Periodic spiral
An Arm of the antenna can be defined in polar form as:

Where :
𝑅0 = constant which controls the initial radius of the spiral antenna
a = rate of the spiral antenna as it turns
 Parameters that Affects the Radiation of the
Antenna
1. Total Length of the spiral (𝑅𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑙 )
2. Flare Rate (a)
3. Feed structure
4. Number of Turns
Total Length of the Spiral(𝑅𝑆𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑙 )

-This determines the lowest frequency operation.

-Lowest frequency occurs when the wavelength is equal to
Circumference of the spiral

𝑐 𝑐
𝑓𝐿𝑜𝑤 = =
λ 2𝜋𝑅𝑆𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑙
Flare Rate (a)
• Rate of which the spiral grows with angle.
• If flare rate is too large the spiral will be tightly wrapped.
• If flare rate is too small it will act more as a dipole.
• Common value a=0.22
 Feeding Structure
• Use a balun to have a balanced current on both arms.
• This also determines the high end of the operating band.

𝑐 𝑐
𝑓𝑈𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 = =
λ𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 4𝑅0
 Number of Turns(N)
• This is also part of the design parameter.
• ½ to 3 turns works well according to experiments
• 1.5 is a Good number of turns in application
 Archimedian Spiral Antenna
• Arms can be defined as:

where:
a = flare rate
r = radius of the antenna which linearly increases
with angle phi.
 Archimedian Spiral Antenna

• The has two arms identical that is 180 degrees rotated which each other.
 Applications
• Defense industry for sensing application.
• GPS
• Military aircraft
 Log-Periodic Antenna
• Is a broadband, Multi-element , Directional, narrow-beam antenna
which has impedance and radiation characteristics that are regularly
Repetitive.
• Most of the time the components are dipoles.
 Log-Periodic Dipole Antenna
• The Log-Periodic Dipole Antenna can vary its Radiation Characteristics
by varying the scaling constant(τ) and the spacing constant(σ).
Using Scaling constant
Spacing Constant

Half Apex Angle

Average Gain
Average E-Plane Beamwidth
Average E-Plane Beamwidth
Radiation Pattern at 12MHz
Far Field Pattern
 Notable Characteristics
• Wide Bandwidth, even higher than Yagi-Uda
• Moderate Directivity
• Good gain over a wide range of frequencies
 Application
• Television Antennas (UHF/VHF)
 Broadband Antenna
• This are designed to operate effectively over a wide range of
frequencies
• A rule of thumb in designing antenna is that you can increase the
frequency band of operation of your antenna by increasing its
volume.
 Broadband Dipole
• A dipole can be made more broadband by increasing the radius A of
the dipole.
• Also known as wideband dipoles.
By varying increasing the radii:
-the resonant frequency lowers as the radius increases
-the bandwidth increases
 Cage Dipole
• The Bandwidth of a single wire dipole can be increased by using a
thicker radiator.
• It does not have to be a single wire, multiple wire “caged” to increase
thickness can be applied.
• Spacers/spreaders should be 0.02 wavelength or less.
 Disadvantages
•Construction
•Maintenance
 Sources:
• http://www.antenna-theory.com/antennas/travelling/spiral.php
• http://www.qrz.ru/schemes/contribute/arrl/chap9.pdf
• Antenna Theory Analysis and Design by Constantine Balanes
• Modern Antenna and Design 2nd ed. By Thomas Milligan