Small Array Design Using Parasitic Superdirective

Antennas
Abdullah Haskou, Sylvain Collardey, Ala Sharaiha

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Abdullah Haskou, Sylvain Collardey, Ala Sharaiha. Small Array Design Using Parasitic Su-
perdirective Antennas. European Conference on Antennas and Propagation , Apr 2016, Davos,
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 Small Array Design Using Parasitic Superdirective
Antennas

Abdullah Haskou, Sylvain Collardey, and Ala Sharaiha

IETR UMR CNRS 6164- Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Abstract—In this paper, a printed parasitic (loaded) end- the required optimal loads for transforming this array to a
fire three-element superdirective antenna array for 866M Hz parasitic (loaded) one are given in Table I. The fully-driven
frequency band is proposed. The array dimensions are 110 × array achieves a maximum simulated (ANSYS HFSS [9])
107.5mm2 (0.32λ × 0.31λ) and it achieves a total directivity of total directivity of 9.5dBi. However, as it can noticed, some
9.2dBi. Then two of this antenna are integrated in a 3D array negative resistances are required to transform this array to a
with total dimensions of 200 × 110 × 107.5mm3 (0.58λ × 0.32λ ×
0.31λ) achieving a total directivity of 11.6dBi.
parasitic one. Neglecting theses resistances, total directivities
of 7.3dBi, 9.2dBi or 7.2dBi can be achieved in case of
Keywords—ESA, compact, end-fire, broadside, superdirectivity, exciting the first-, second- or third- element. The highest
parasitic element directivity in the case of exciting the second element is due to
two reasons. First, in this case, only one negative resistance is
I. I NTRODUCTION neglected. Second, the excitation coefficient of this element is
the highest, and hence, the array directivity is more sensitive
Electrically Small Antennas (ESAs) are interesting for to the changes in this element’s excitation. Fig. 1(b) shows the
emerging multi-band wireless technologies. However, these parasitic antenna (exciting the second element and loading the
antennas, that are characterized by their narrow bandwidths, first and third one with 68Ω//4.5pF , 0.6pF ) simulated end-
low efficiencies and quasi-omnidirectional radiation patterns, fire directivity (D(θ=90o ,ϕ=90o ) ) and input reflection coefficient
cannot be used alone in pointing applications where high magnitude in dB. The figure shows that the end-fire directivity
directivities as well as compactness are required. In such cases, is maximum at the design frequency. The antenna has an
superdirective ESAs, where the array elements are very closely impedance bandwidth (S11 < −6db) of 2.8M Hz and a
placed together, may be an attractive solution. directivity bandwidth (Dmax − 1dB) of 2.6M Hz. Fig. 1(c)
There has been a considerable research on the design of shows the antenna 3D total directivity radiation pattern at the
superdirective antenna arrays [1]-[8]. Early works were mainly resonance frequency (866M Hz). The figure shows a directive
based on wire-type unit-elements [1]-[3]. Recently, multiple pattern with a maximum directivity of 9.2dBi in the end-fire
planar parasitic superdirective ESAs were presented [5]-[7]. In direction. This directivity is 2.44dBi greater than Harrington’s
this paper, we present a parasitic superdirective three-element normal directivity limit [10]. Fig. 3 shows the antenna 2D
array. Then, we show the possibility to use this antenna as a total directivity radiation patterns in horizontal (XoY) and
unit-element to design a compact 3D array.1 vertical (YoZ) planes at the resonance frequency. The Half
The rest of the paper is organized as follows: The simulation Power Beam-Width (HPBW) in horizontal and vertical planes
results are given in section II. The 3D array inter-element are respectively 60◦ and 72◦ . The Front to Back Ratio (FBR)
distance effect is studied in section III. The experimental is about 16.9dB. Due to the mutual coupling, the antenna
results are presented in section IV. Finally, conclusions are presents a relatively small radiation efficiency (11.2%). Fi-
drawn in section V. nally, this antenna is significantly smaller than a Yagi-Uda
antenna covering the same frequency band and with the same
II. S IMULATIONS AND R ESULTS directivity which dimensions are about 500 × 152mm2 [11].
However, the miniaturization comes with some decrement in
The initial unit-element used in this work is a miniaturized
the antenna efficiency.
printed half-loop antenna [6]. It is printed on a 0.8mm-thick
Rogers RO4003 substrate and its dimensions are 24×20mm2 .

A. Superdirective Unit-Element
The method described in [7] is used to design a three-
element array for a 866M Hz with an inter-element distance of
TABLE I. F ULLY- DRIVEN ARRAY CALCULATED CURRENT EXCITATION
0.1λ. The array is integrated in a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) COEFFICIENTS AND REQUIRED LOADS FOR TRANSFORMING THE ARRAY TO
via an analysis similar to the one presented in [8]. Fig. 1(a) A PARASITIC ONE
shows the antenna geometry and dimensions in millimeters.
Element no. Magnitude [A] Phase [degree] Optimal Load [Ω]
The fully-driven array calculated excitation coefficients and
1 1 0 17.9-j30
1 Thiswork was done with the funding of the French National Research 2 1.4 -146 -53-j45.3
Agency as part of the project "SOCRATE" and the support of the "Images et
3 0.2 69 -3526.9-j3305.5
Reseaux" cluster of Brittany region, France.
 0 12
0 12

Broadside Directivity [dBi]

End−Fire Directivity [dBi]
−5 8
−5 8

S11 [dB]
S11 [dB]
6
6

−10 4
−10 4

2
2

−15 0
−15 0 830 840 850 860 870 880 890 900
830 840 850 860 870 880 890 900 Frequency [MHz]
Frequency [MHz]
(a) (b)
(a) (b)

(c)
(c)
Fig. 2. Broadside array geometry and simulated parameters. (a) Geometry
Fig. 1. Superdirective unit-element geometry and simulated parameters. (a) and dimensions, (b) input reflection coefficient magnitude in dB and end-fire
Geometry and dimensions, (b) input reflection coefficient magnitude in dB total directivity, and (c) 3D total directivity radiation pattern at the resonance
and end-fire total directivity, and (c) 3D total directivity radiation pattern at frequency (866MHz).
the resonance frequency (866MHz).

90 15 90 15
120 60 120 60
5 5

−5 −5
150 30 150 30
−15 −15
Directivity [dBi]

Directivity [dBi]
−25 −25

180 0 180 0
B. Compact Array Design

210 330 210 330

Planar array Planar array
3D array 3D array
Two elements of the planar array are stacked along Z- 240 300 240 300

axis with an inter-element distance of 200mm(0.6λ) as shown 270

φ [°]
270
θ [°]
in Fig. 2(a). The two driven-elements are excited with equal (a) (b)
power. Fig. 2(b) shows the antenna input reflection coefficient
magnitude and directivity. The figure shows that the antenna’s Fig. 3. Two arrays’ simulated 2D total directivity radiation patterns at the
total directivity is also maximal around the resonance fre- resonance frequency (866MHz). (a) Horizontal plane and (b) vertical plane.
quency of 866M Hz. The antenna has an impedance bandwidth
of 2.8M Hz and a directivity bandwidth of 3M Hz. Fig. 2(c)
III. D ISTANCE E FFECT
shows the antenna 3D total directivity radiation pattern. The
figure shows a directive pattern with a maximum directivity To study the effect of the distance between the two par-
of 11.6dBi in the direction (D(θ=90o ,ϕ=90o ) ). Fig. 3 shows asitic arrays (d) (refer to Fig. 2(a)), we change this distance
the antenna 2D total directivity radiation patterns. The HPBW from 0.01λ to 1.4λ while monitoring the antenna reflection
in horizontal and vertical planes are respectively 56◦ and coefficient, total directivity and radiation efficiency. Fig. 4(a)
42◦ , the FBR is 17.2dB, and the Side Lobe Level (SLL) is shows the array simulated input reflection coefficient mag-
−11.4dBi. Finally, the antenna presents a radiation efficiency nitude as a function of the distance. The figure shows that
of 9.7%. Comparing with the initial end-fire array, it can be for d = 0.01λ the array does not have any resonances in
noticed that the total directivity is increased by 2.4dB. The the observed band. This is due to the high mutual coupling.
horizontal HPBW is almost the same, while the vertical one As the distance increases the mutual coupling decreases and
is divided by 1.7. As for antenna FBR and efficiency, they the array resonance frequency converges to the one of the
are approximately the same as the initial end-fire’s ones. This unit-elements. Fig. 4(b) shows the array simulated maximum
antenna is significantly smaller than equivalent (presents the total directivity and radiation efficiency as a function of the
same directivity) commercial antennas which dimensions are distance. The figure shows that for very small distances, the
about 698.5 × 215.9 × 88.9mm3 [12]. antenna’s efficiency is maximal and as the distance increases
the efficiency decreases. This is mainly due to the the lost of and 73o and the FBR is 8.5dB. The small difference may be
superdirectivity for very small distances. Fig. 5 shows the array attributed to the measuring system and environment as well as
simulated 2D total directivity radiation patterns at the design the dispersion of SMD components.
frequency as a function of the distance. The figure shows that
for very small distances, the array directive pattern is lost and
0
the array has a quasi-omnidirectional radiation pattern. This is
also due to the high coupling effect that makes the applied −2

loads unsuitable for having directive unit-elements. As the −4

distance increases, the achieved directivity also increases till

S11 [dB]
−6

1.2λ when it starts decreasing again. −8

−10
0 100 15
−12 Simulated
Measured
80 12 −14
750 800 850 900 950 1000
−5 Frequency [MHz]

Dmax [dBi]
60 9
S11 [dB]

ηrad [%]

(a) (b)
40 6
−10
0.01λ
0.2λ 20 3
0.4λ
0.8λ
−15 0 0
830 840 850 860 870 880 890 900 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
Frequency [MHz] d/λ

(a) (b)
Y
Fig. 4. Broadside array simulated parameters as a function of the distance
(d). (a) Input reflection coefficient magnitude in dB, and (b) maximum total
directivity and radiation efficiency.

90 15 90 15
120 60 120 60
(c)
−5 −5
150 30 150 30
−25 −25
Fig. 6. Planar array experimental results. (a) Fabricated prototype, (b) input
reflection coefficient magnitude in dB and (c) 3D total directivity radiation
Directivity [dBi]

Directivity [dBi]

pattern at the resonance frequency (903MHz).

180 0 180 0

210 330 210 330

90 15 90 15
0.01λ 0.2λ 0.4λ 0.8λ 0.01λ 0.2λ 0.4λ 0.8λ 120 60 120 60
240 300 240 300
270 270 −5 −5
φ [°] θ [°]
150 30 150 30
Directivity [dBi]

Directivity [dBi]

(a) (b) −25 −25

Simulated
180 Measured 0 180 0
Fig. 5. Broadside array simulated 2D total directivity radiation patterns at the
resonance frequency (866MHz) as a function of the distance (d). (a) Horizontal
plane and (b) vertical plane. 210 330 210 330

240 300 240 300

Simulated
IV. E XPERIMENTAL R ESULTS 270
φ [°] Measured
270
θ [°]

A prototype of the planar array was fabricated and mea- (a) (b)
sured for results validation. Fig. 6(a) shows a photograph of
the prototype. Fig. 6(b) shows the antenna measured input Fig. 7. Planar array measured 2D total directivity radiation patterns at the
resonance frequency (903MHz). (a) Horizontal plane and (b) vertical plane.
reflection coefficient magnitude in dB. The measured reso-
nance is 903M Hz (4.7% shifted compared to the simulated
one). This shift is mainly due to the coaxial cable effect and
the dispersion of SMD components. Due to the antenna low V. C ONCLUSION
efficiency, it is not easy to measure its far-field radiation pattern
in the presence of a coaxial cable. Hence an optical probe from In this paper, a parasitic end-fire three-element superdirec-
enprobe [13] was used and the measurements were performed tive antenna array for 866M Hz frequency band was proposed.
in SATIMO stargate (SG 32) near-field measurement system. The array dimensions were (0.32λ × 0.31λ) and it presented a
Fig. 6(c) shows the measured 3D total directivity radiation total directivity of 9.2dBi and radiation efficiency of 11.2%.
pattern at the resonance frequency (903M Hz). This pattern The proposed array was, in turn, integrated in 3D array of
is in a good agreement with the simulated one. The measured total dimensions of (0.58λ × 0.32λ × 0.31λ) achieving a total
directivity is 8.1dBi. Fig. 7 shows measured 2D total direc- directivity of 11.6dBi and radiation efficiency of 9.7%. This
tivity radiation pattens in horizontal and vertical planes. The array is significantly smaller than classical arrays achieving the
HPBW in horizontal and vertical planes are respectively 67.5o same directivity.
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