Measurement of Reflection and Radiation

Characteristics of Antenna

Kushmanda Saurav and Debdeep Sarkar

Department of Electrical Engineering,

IIT Kanpur

What is an Antenna?

A means for radiating or receiving radio waves (IEEE Standard Definitions

of Terms for Antennas)
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=30651

1. Antenna acts as a transitional

structure between free-space and a
guiding device

2. Antenna optimizes or accentuate the

radiation energy in some directions and
suppress it in others. Thus the antenna
must also serve as a directional
device in addition to a probing device.

Single Antenna Configurations

Dipole Antenna

Pyramidal Horn Antenna

Loop Antenna

Microstrip Patch Antenna

Antenna Array Configurations

Yagi Uda Array

Array of Microstrip Patch Antenna

Slotted Waveguide Array

Main Performance Metrics of any

Antenna
Return Loss Input Reflection Coefficient (S11)
Radiation Pattern
Directivity / Gain
Radiation Efficiency
Polarization characteristics: Linear / Circular

S11 measurement using Vector Network

Analyzer
Approximate reflection characteristics of antenna in the entire
operating range of VNA
Preset the VNA
Connect the antenna under test to the port 1 of VNA
Measure the S11
Once the desired operating frequency range is known
Perform the one port calibration of the VNA in the desired frequency
range
Connect the antenna under test to the port 1 of VNA
Measure the S11

Radiation Pattern of Antenna

Defined as mathematical function or a graphical representation
of the radiation properties of the antenna as a function of space
coordinates.
Radiation Properties include
Power density, Radiation intensity, Field strength, Directivity.
Radiation pattern is generally determined in far-field of
antenna
Challenge: Automatic Measurement of Radiation Pattern.

Automatic Radiation Pattern measurement setup

PC loaded with LabVIEW 2010.

Antenna under test (AUT) and reference antenna.
Vector Network Analyzer (HP 8712ET).
Position Controller (HOLMARC ver 2.0)
Turn table
Radiation pattern measurement set-up (transmitting
and probe antenna, cables, connectors etc.)

Linearly Polarized Printed Dipole Antenna

acting as AUT

Balun

Dipole

Theoretical Radiation Pattern of the AUT

Radiation pattern measurement setup in

anechoic chamber

Position Controller

Antenna stand mounted on the turn table

Control through RS232

Control through GPIB

Radio Frequency

Vector Network Analyzer

Position controller

Acknowledgement

S. Vinoth Naidu
PhD Student
EE Department, IIT Kanpur

Position controller

Position controller

Position controller

Position controller

Friis transmission equation

Pr

GotGor
Pt 4R
2

Pt
Got

Pt = Input power of transmitting antenna

Pr = Power delivered to the receiving antenna
R = Distance between transmitting and receiving antenna
Got = Gain of transmitting antenna
Gor = Gain of receiving antenna

4R

= Free space loss factor

corresponds to the operating wavelength

2D 2

(Far-field region of antenna)

Pr
Gor

Pr
S 21
Pt
If we make use of VNA
for antenna radiation
characteristics
measurement

Gain measurement
Absolute method: A pair of identical test antennas are required
Identical test antennas are used as transmitters and receivers

Pr

GotGor
Pt 4R
2

Thus,

Got Gor

And

Pr
Got
Pt

4R

Pt
Got

Relative method: Standard gain antenna with known value of gain in the desired
frequency range is required

Pr
Got
Pt

/
Gor

4R

Pr
Gor

6 April, 2015

Metamaterial Antenna: Demo