TY - GEN
T1 - A conformal UWB directional antenna
AU - Gaetano, D.
AU - Ammann, M. J.
AU - McEvoy, P.
AU - John, M.
AU - Keating, L.
AU - Horgan, F.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - An experimental analysis of the conformal properties of an antipodal exponentially tapered antenna in the UWB range is presented. The ability to be conformal, due to a thin dielectric layer, allows the antenna to be curved in both the principal planes. With the antenna located in the YZ plane, this study considers the conformity for a fixed radius in the XZ and XY planes. The investigation includes numerical and experimental work on an empty and full water pipe, considering that the antenna can be placed on the surface of a flow meter system, like a water tank. Initially the planar free space antenna is compared with the conformal free space antenna; then the antenna is attached to the empty pipe and the pipe finally filled with water. The effect of the conformity has a small influence on the antenna performance, mainly seen as increased cross polar levels. The presence of the pipe affects the reflection coefficient without significantly degrading the UWB performances, but with a reduction of the efficiency. The close proximity to a lossy material in the case of the full water pipe shows a notable reduction in gain. It was observed that the water effect can be mitigated by shifting the antenna away from the pipe surface, guaranteeing good performance.
AB - An experimental analysis of the conformal properties of an antipodal exponentially tapered antenna in the UWB range is presented. The ability to be conformal, due to a thin dielectric layer, allows the antenna to be curved in both the principal planes. With the antenna located in the YZ plane, this study considers the conformity for a fixed radius in the XZ and XY planes. The investigation includes numerical and experimental work on an empty and full water pipe, considering that the antenna can be placed on the surface of a flow meter system, like a water tank. Initially the planar free space antenna is compared with the conformal free space antenna; then the antenna is attached to the empty pipe and the pipe finally filled with water. The effect of the conformity has a small influence on the antenna performance, mainly seen as increased cross polar levels. The presence of the pipe affects the reflection coefficient without significantly degrading the UWB performances, but with a reduction of the efficiency. The close proximity to a lossy material in the case of the full water pipe shows a notable reduction in gain. It was observed that the water effect can be mitigated by shifting the antenna away from the pipe surface, guaranteeing good performance.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79959648173&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:79959648173
SN - 9788882020743
T3 - Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EUCAP 2011
SP - 1113
EP - 1116
BT - Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EUCAP 2011
T2 - 5th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EUCAP 2011
Y2 - 10 April 2011 through 15 April 2011
ER -