A broadband helical loaded square cavity back antenna array

Abstract

In this paper, a fundamental advancement of the basic helix design which expands to array having good bandwidth is proposed. The helix is inserted in a cavity. The result is a new antenna design that offers the performance characteristics and advantages of the conventional helix but in a much more compact physical size envelope. A 4-element rectangular helical array has been designed. For miniaturization and impedance matching, the helical wire is replaced by a rectangular cross sectioned strip. It has been observed that when the helix is inserted in a cavity, it behaves differently from a normal helical antenna. The effects of the cavity on the number of turns, the impedance of total antenna, and the reflection coefficient have been analyzed. The array is designed for 2.4 GHz. The return loss obtained is less than -10 dB and the bandwidth is more than 1.3 GHz for the array.

Keywords

antenna array / broadband helical antenna / helix impedance matching / strip helix / square cavity back

References

[1] Li X Q, Liu Q X, Wu X J, Zhao L, Zhang J Q, Zhang Z Q. A GW level high-power radial line helical array antenna. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 2008, 56(9): 2943–2948

[2] Kraus J D. Antennas. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2001

[3] Zhang J Q, Liu Q X, Li X Q, Zhao L. Design of the 4-element rectangle radial line helical array antenna. In: Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Microwave and Millimeter Wave Technology. 2010, 1: 690–692

[4] Li X Q, Liu Q X, Zhang J Q, Zhao L. 16-element single layer rectangular radial line helical array antenna for high power applications. IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, 2010, 9: 708–711

[5] Dongre V J, Mishra B K. Compact size helical loaded cavity backed antenna by helical resonator filter. Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2011, 145: 278–282

[6] Zverev A I, Blinchikoff H J. Realization of a filter with helical components. IRE Transactions on Component Parts, 1961, 8(3): 99–110

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg