AN ACTIVE RETRODIRECTIVE ANTENNA ARRAY by AMY
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AN ACTIVE RETRODIRECTIVE ANTENNA ARRAY by AMY FLEISCHMANN, B.S.E.E. A Thesis In ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCES IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Approved Dr. Mohammad Saed Chair of Committee Dr. Changzhi Li Peggy Gordon Miller Dean of the Graduate School August, 2011 Copyright Amy Fleischmann, 2011 Texas Tech University, Amy Fleischmann, August 2011 Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... v Chapters I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 II. Background .................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Methods Retrodirectivity .......................................................................................... 2 2.2 The Active Retrodirective Antenna Array ................................................................ 3 2.3 Applications of Retrodirective Antenna Arrays ....................................................... 5 2.4 Metamaterial Motivation .......................................................................................... 7 2.5 Metamaterial Background ......................................................................................... 8 III. System Overview ........................................................................................................ 11 3.1 System Setup ........................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Active Components ................................................................................................. 12 VI. Antenna Design and Development ............................................................................. 13 4.1 Slot Antenna Background ....................................................................................... 13 4.2 Slot Antenna Design ............................................................................................... 14 4.3 Slot Antenna Fabrication ........................................................................................ 17 4.4 Slot Antenna Testing and Results ........................................................................... 18 4.5 Antenna Array ......................................................................................................... 20 4.6 PEC Reflector ......................................................................................................... 23 V. Retrodirective Antenna Array ...................................................................................... 28 5.1 Retrodirective Antenna Array Fabrication .............................................................. 28 5.2 Retrodirective Antenna Array Testing Setup .......................................................... 29 5.3 Retrodirective Antenna Array Measurements ........................................................ 31 VI. Metamaterial Ground Plane ........................................................................................ 34 6.1 Motivation ............................................................................................................... 34 6.2 The Mushroom Structure ........................................................................................ 34 6.3 Metamaterial Design and Results ........................................................................... 35 ii Texas Tech University, Amy Fleischmann, August 2011 VII. Future Work .............................................................................................................. 40 7.1 Solar Antennas ........................................................................................................ 40 7.2 Additional Future Work .......................................................................................... 41 VIII. Conclusions .............................................................................................................. 43 References ......................................................................................................................... 44 Appendix A ....................................................................................................................... 46 iii Texas Tech University, Amy Fleischmann, August 2011 Abstract Retrodirective antenna arrays utilize an array of antennas to redirect a signal back in the direction it originated from without the use of digital circuitry, microcontrollers, or sophisticated signal processing algorithms. Passive retrodirective arrays, like the Van Atta array, use equal length transmission lines to redirect the signal. Active redrodirective arrays use mixers to create the phase conjugation necessary to redirect the signal. Applications include high-speed tracking, mobile communication, RADAR, and sensors. This thesis focuses on designing antennas for the retrodirective array to lay the groundwork for future enhancements. While patch and slot antennas are investigated, slot antennas are selected to provide a foundation for the implementation of solar cells. Due to the bidirectional radiation pattern inherent to slot antennas, a high impedance ground plane is investigated for its low profile reflecting properties. This metamaterial based plane is comprised of mushroom type structures than exhibit useful properties in their respective electromagnetic bandgap. By using this high impedance plane in association with the retrodirective array, the foundation for the implementation of solar cells is set for a solar antenna based retrodirective array. iv Texas Tech University, Amy Fleischmann, August 2011 List of Figures 2.1 Van Atta Array [3] ........................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Phase Conjugation Retrodirective Antenna Array [3] ................................................. 4 2.3 RAA Transponder Application [3] .............................................................................. 6 2.4 Retrodirective Radar versus Phased Array Radar [7] .................................................. 7 2.5 Elecromagetic Band Gap [8] ........................................................................................ 8 2.6 EBG Antenna Radiation Pattern [8] .......................................................................... 10 3.1 RAA Block Diagram.................................................................................................. 11 4.1 Slot Antenna Example [11] ........................................................................................ 14 4.2 Slot Antenna Design .................................................................................................. 15 4.3 Overlap Matching ...................................................................................................... 16 4.4 S11 of Slot Antennas ................................................................................................. 16 4.5 Slot Antenna Radiation Pattern .................................................................................. 17 4.6 Fabricated Antenna Front/Back ................................................................................. 18 4.7 Slot Antenna S11 Measured....................................................................................... 19 4.8 Measured Slot Antenna Radiation Pattern ................................................................. 20 4.9 Four Element Antenna Array ..................................................................................... 21 4.10 S11 of Antenna Array .............................................................................................. 22 4.11 Antenna Array Radiation Pattern ............................................................................. 23 4.12 Slot Antenna with Reflector..................................................................................... 24 4.13 S11 of Slot Antenna with Reflector ......................................................................... 24 4.14 Radiation Pattern of Slot Antenna with Reflector ................................................... 25 4.15 Slot Antenna vs. Slot Antenna with Plane Reflector Radiation Pattern .................. 26 4.16 Antenna Array with QWR ....................................................................................... 27 5.1 RAA Layout (in mm) ................................................................................................. 28 5.2 Fabricated RAA ......................................................................................................... 29 5.3 Monostatic Testing Setup .......................................................................................... 30 5.4 Bistatic Testing Setup ................................................................................................ 31 5.5 Monostatic Testing Results ........................................................................................ 32 5.6 Bistatic Testing Results.............................................................................................. 33 6.1 Mushroom Structure Example [8] ............................................................................