ANTENNA DESIGN

Texas Instruments
TRF 6900

Overview
The Normal Mode Helical Antenna was
selected, primarily for its small profile and
relative ease of construction.
A prototype was constructed based on
published formulas
The prototype was found to have several
deficiencies in performance

Antenna Design Scheme

Initial antenna design and evaluation
Optimize characteristics by varying antenna
dimensions and configuration
Perform preliminary tests with network
analyzer to determine effects of changes
Implement desirable modifications and
perform radiation pattern and gain tests

Experimental Modifications

Increased ground plane area

Increased pitch angle
Varied helix diameter
Varied number of helix turns
Installed stub between helix and ground
plane

Equipment Setup for Radiation

Pattern And Gain Measurements
Network
Analyzer

PC
(Data
Collection)

Probe
Antenna

Antenna
Under
Test

Anechoic Chamber

Anechoic Chamber Setup

Network Analyzer and Antenna

Rotation Unit

Task Detail
Prototype Antenna: Research, build and test - James Furse, Aden
Wilson
Vary antenna dimensions and observe changes- James Furse, Aden
Wilson
Implement and test beneficial modifications in design - James
Furse, Aden Wilson
Develop Matlab program to plot radiation patterns from data
James Furse
Implement and test centrally located stub - James Furse, Aden
Wilson
Develop and implement Impedance matching network - Farhan
Khan
Test antennae with PC-PC link - James Furse, Aden Wilson,
FarhanKhan (tentative)
Develop and implement antenna enclosure/support- James Furse,
Aden Wilson (tentative)

Final Antenna Design

Timeline (Tasks completed)

09/14 Research antenna designs

10/02 Select antenna type
10/05 Calculate preliminary dimensions
10/08 Build prototype antenna
10/10 Perform testing of prototype
10/12 Alter various dimensions to optimize
characteristics
10/12 Implement changes in a series of test antennas
10/12 Test effects of changes
10/13 Implement beneficial changes to optimize design
10/25 Build final design
10/25 Begin research of impedance matching methods
10/26 Test final design

Timeline (Tasks incomplete)

11/05 Build impedance matching circuit (if needed)
11/05 Implement impedance matching circuit (if
needed)
11/12 Test antenna on PC-PC link
11/12 Modify design (as needed)
11/19 Design and implement antenna enclosure
11/19 Design complete

Network Analyzer - Magnitude

Network Analyzer - SWR

Network Analyzer Smith Chart

Anechoic Chamber Testing

Vertical Radiation Pattern Test - 915 MHz

34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22

35 36-20

2 3

-25
-30
-35

19

7
8
9
10

-40

21 20

18 17

11
12
13
14
15
16

Anechoic Chamber Testing

Measured Gain

dB

0
900

905

910
915
920
Frequency in MHz

925

930

Impedance Matching Circuit

Why do we need an Impedance

Matching Circuit?
USB Board is configured to 50,
while the Antenna is receiving at
approximately 40.
Impedance mismatch will cause
distortion and reflection back from the
intended load.

What are the Options?

T w o P o s s ib le T e c h n iq u e s to M a tc h Im p e d a n c e s
T r a n s fo r m e r C ir c u it

L u m p e d C o m p o n e n t C ir c u it

Transformer Circuit

Advantage
The connection effects an
improvement in the
amount of power
transferable between
different impedance levels.

Disadvantage
The circuit can be quite
complex, and the
theoretically calculated
transformer values may
require extensive tuning.

Lumped Component Circuit

Advantages
The least complex
impedance matching
circuit
Requires less tuning

Disadvantages
Suits either High Pass or
Low Pass, but not both
Component values can
be limited

Antenna Characteristics
VSWR (Voltage Standing-Wave Ratio) = 1.375

@ 915MHz
Always High Pass Bandwidth of 30 MHz

The Choice

Lumped Component Circuit

HIGHPASS Hi-Low L-Shaped

Matching Network