3.5 to 30 Mhz Automatic Antenna Impedance Matching System

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3.5 to 30 Mhz Automatic Antenna Impedance Matching System 3.5 to 30 MHz Automatic Antenna Impedance Matching System By William Blodgett Senior Project ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo August 2012 © 2012 William Blodgett TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................... iv Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... v Chapter 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2. Background ................................................................................................................................. 3 Chapter 3. Requirements ............................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 4. Design.......................................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 5. Test Plans .................................................................................................................................. 18 Chapter 6. Development and Construction ................................................................................................. 20 Chapter 7. Integration and Test Results ...................................................................................................... 36 1. Directional Coupler ............................................................................................................................ 36 2. RF Power Sensor ................................................................................................................................ 42 3. Power Supply ...................................................................................................................................... 45 4. Stepper Motors ................................................................................................................................... 45 5. IMS Power Meter ............................................................................................................................... 50 6. Matching Network .............................................................................................................................. 53 Chapter 8. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 61 Chapter 9. Bibliography .............................................................................................................................. 62 Chapter 10. Appendices .............................................................................................................................. 65 Appendix A: Senior Project Analysis .................................................................................................... 65 Appendix B: Time Schedule Allocation ................................................................................................ 71 Appendix C: Parts List and Costs ........................................................................................................... 72 Appendix D: Schematics ........................................................................................................................ 74 1. DC Power Supply ........................................................................................................................... 74 2. Matching Network.......................................................................................................................... 75 3. Stepper Motors ............................................................................................................................... 76 4. Control Unit ................................................................................................................................... 77 5. Directional Coupler ........................................................................................................................ 78 6. RF Power Sensors .......................................................................................................................... 79 7. Front Panel ..................................................................................................................................... 80 Appendix E: Software ............................................................................................................................ 81 i LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1 - Loss Comparison of 450 Ω Balanced Line versus 50 Ω Coaxial Cable. ........................ 3 Table 2 - IMS Requirements and Specifications Table .................................................................. 8 Table 3 – IMS System Level Functionality Table ........................................................................ 10 Table 4 – IMS Subcomponent Level Functionality Table ............................................................ 11 Table 5 - 5 V DC Power Supply Requirements ............................................................................ 14 Table 6 – Amateur Radio HF Bands ............................................................................................. 19 Table 7 - ATmega32 Microcontroller Pin Connections ............................................................... 26 Table 8 - IMS Power Look Up Table Calculation ........................................................................ 31 Table 9 - DC Power Supply Test Data.......................................................................................... 45 Table 10 - Power Meter Comparison ............................................................................................ 50 Table 11 - IMS Forward Power Calibration ................................................................................. 52 Table 12 - IMS Reflected Power Calibration ............................................................................... 52 Table 13 - IMS SWR Meter Comparison to VNA ....................................................................... 53 Table 14 - Results of IMS match testing into dummy load .......................................................... 54 Table 15 - IMS vs. Commercial Antenna Tuner Specifications ................................................... 61 Table 16 - Antenna Impedance Matching System Bill of Materials (Page 1 of 2) ....................... 72 Table 17 - Antenna Impedance Matching System Bill of Materials (Page 2 of 2) ....................... 73 Figure 1 - Typical Impedance Matching System (IMS) Setup ...................................................... 1 Figure 2 - Feedpoint impedance of a 100 ft long dipole antenna in free space .............................. 5 Figure 3 - Smith Chart operation and schematic for the two L network configurations. ............... 6 Figure 4 – Transmission Line Loss Comparison. ........................................................................... 6 Figure 5 – System Level Block Diagram, Impedance Matching System ....................................... 9 Figure 6 – IMS Subcomponent Block Diagram ........................................................................... 10 Figure 7 - Directional Coupler Circuit Diagram .......................................................................... 13 Figure 8 - Power Supply Block Diagram ...................................................................................... 14 Figure 9 - 1:1 Balun Design ......................................................................................................... 15 Figure 10 - RF Power Sensor Design ........................................................................................... 16 Figure 11 – Directional Coupler ................................................................................................... 20 Figure 12 - Power Supply Circuit Board ...................................................................................... 21 Figure 13 - IMS Power Supply as built ........................................................................................ 21 Figure 14 - IMS Matching Network ............................................................................................. 22 Figure 15 - Matching Network RF Switch ................................................................................... 23 Figure 16 - IMS Balun .................................................................................................................. 23 Figure 17 - RF Power Sensors ...................................................................................................... 24 Figure 18 - Bottom of Microcontroller Board .............................................................................. 25 Figure 19 - Microcontroller Module ............................................................................................. 25 Figure 20 - IMS Front Panel ......................................................................................................... 27 ii Figure 21 - IMS Rear Panel .......................................................................................................... 27 Figure 22 - IMS Interior ................................................................................................................ 28
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