Wright State University CORE Scholar Browse all Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 2010 A Direction Finding System Using Log Periodic Dipole Antennas in a Sparsely Sampled Linear Array Jonathan Andrew Weldon Wright State University Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all Part of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons Repository Citation Weldon, Jonathan Andrew, "A Direction Finding System Using Log Periodic Dipole Antennas in a Sparsely Sampled Linear Array" (2010). Browse all Theses and Dissertations. 351. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all/351 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Browse all Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A DIRECTION FINDING SYSTEM USING LOG PERIODIC DIPOLE ANTENNAS IN A SPARSELY SAMPLED LINEAR ARRAY A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering By JONATHAN ANDREW WELDON B.S., Texas Christian University, 2006 2010 Wright State University WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES April 02, 2010 I HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THE THESIS PREPARED UNDER MY SUPERVISIONBY Jonathan Andrew Weldon ENTITLED A Direction Finding System Using Log Periodic Dipole Antennas in a Sparsely Sampled Linear Array BE ACCEPTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Master of Science in Engineering. __________________________________ Ray Siferd, Ph.D. Thesis Director __________________________________ Kefu Xue, Ph.D. Department Chair Committee on Final Examination __________________________________ Ray Siferd, Ph.D. __________________________________ Ronald Riechers, Ph.D. __________________________________ Saiyu Ren, Ph.D. __________________________________ Marian Kazimierczuk, Ph.D. __________________________________ John A. Bantle, Ph.D. Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Interim Dean of Graduate Studies ABSTRACT Weldon, Jonathan Andrew. M.S.Egr. , Department of Electrical Engineering, Wright State University, 2010. A Direction Finding System Using Log Periodic Dipole Antennas in a Sparsely Sampled Linear Array. This thesis explores the use of wide band log periodic dipole array (LPDA) antennas in direction finding systems. A wide band log periodic antenna will be constructed and tested to ensure hardware capability. A novel approach utilizing non-uniform spacing in a linear array will be used to improve the spatial resolution of the direction finding system. These specialized linear arrays are known as minimum redundancy or non- redundant linear arrays. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Thesis Motivation ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Thesis Objectives ............................................................................................................ 1 2. Phased Array Antennas ........................................................................................................... 2 2.1. Theory of Phased Array Antennas .................................................................................. 2 2.2 Design of a Phased Array Antenna ................................................................................. 3 3. Log Periodic Dipole Array.................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Theory of the Planar Log Periodic Dipole Array (LPDA) ........................................... 10 3.2 Design of a Log Period Dipole Array ........................................................................... 11 4. Modeling and Simulation ...................................................................................................... 30 4.1 Log Periodic Dipole Array Modeling ..................................................................................... 30 4.2 Phased Array Simulation ........................................................................................................ 40 5. Results ................................................................................................................................... 44 5.1. Planar Log Periodic Dipole Array Results .................................................................... 44 5.2. Phase Array Results ...................................................................................................... 61 6. Conclusions ........................................................................................................................... 65 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 67 Appendix A -- MatLab Code ........................................................................................................ 68 Appendix B -- NEC Code ............................................................................................................. 74 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Plot of Uniform, Minimum, and Non-Redundant Array Configuration Angular Resolutions ULA refers to a Uniform Linear Array, MRA refers to a Minimum Redundancy Array, and NRA refers to a Non Redundant Array ....................................... 8 Figure 2 Log Periodic Dipole Array ................................................................................. 11 Figure 3 Constant Directivity Contours ............................................................................ 12 Figure 4 Nomograph for Truncation Coefficient K1 ........................................................ 14 Figure 5 Nomograph for Truncation Coefficient K2 ....................................................... 14 Figure 6 (a) Pictorial representation of two-plane stripline LPDA. .................................. 17 Figure 7 Graphical Representation of Incident and Reflected Waves at Balun ............... 18 Figure 8 Klopfenstein Taper-- Z1 and Z2 are impedances, x represents the independent axis and L the overall length; ρ is the reflection coefficient along the x-axis ............... 19 Figure 9 Plot of the Klopfenstein Taper Impedance Curve .............................................. 26 Figure 10 Planar LPDA Antenna Planes .......................................................................... 28 Figure 11 Klopfenstein Taper with Zoomed Taper End ................................................... 29 Figure 12 Front View of the LPDA in NEC 3-D Viewer ................................................. 31 Figure 13 Isometric View of the LPDA in NEC 3-D Viewer........................................... 32 Figure 14 Alternating Elements along the Two Feed Lines ............................................. 33 Figure 15 Field Pattern of Antenna Gain @ 2.5 GHz. ...................................................... 36 Figure 16 Field Pattern of Antenna Gain @ 2.5 GHz. ...................................................... 37 Figure 17 Field Pattern of Antenna Gain @ 2.5 GHz. ...................................................... 38 Figure 18 Field Pattern of Antenna Gain @ 2.5 GHz. ...................................................... 39 v Figure 19 Element Uniform Array vs. 5-Element Minimum Redundancy Array ............ 40 Figure 20 5-Element General Minimum Redundancy Array vs. 5-Element Minimum Redundancy Array ............................................................................................................ 41 Figure 21 Array factors for four 5-Element Arrays detailing the Uniform, Non-Redundant and both Minimum Redundancy cases. ............................................................................ 42 Figure 22 NEC Log Periodic Dipole Array Pattern Multiplied with Sparse Array Factors ........................................................................................................................................... 43 Figure 23 Planar Log Period Dipole Array ....................................................................... 45 Figure 24 Completed Log Periodic Dipole Array with Stripline ...................................... 46 Figure 25 Image of the Firing End of the Antenna ........................................................... 47 Figure 26 Image of Stripline Launcher Connected to the Antenna .................................. 47 Figure 27 Voltage Standing Wave Ratio Measurement for the First LPDA from 1-4 GHz ........................................................................................................................................... 49 Figure 28 Voltage Standing Wave Ratio Measurement for the Second LPDA from 1-4 GHz ................................................................................................................................... 50 Figure 29 Voltage Standing Wave Ratio Measurement for the First LPDA from 2.5-3.5 GHz ................................................................................................................................... 51 Figure 30 Voltage Standing Wave Ratio Measurement for the Second LPDA from 2.5-3.5 GHz ................................................................................................................................... 52 Figure 31 First Antenna at 2.6 GHz .................................................................................