LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS

• It is an antenna configuration, which closely

parallels the frequency independent concept.
• Because the entire shape of it cannot be solely
specified by angles, it is not truly frequency
independent .
• Impedance is periodic with logarithm of
frequency.
• It is non linear array i.e. spacing of the
elements as well as their dimensions are
unequal.
 LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS
• Its excitation is uniform.
• Frequency independent antenna.
• It can be used to receive a good number of TV channels
without any deterioration of received field strength.
• Entire structure will never radiate. Depending on the
frequency a particular dipole is active and other are not in
resonance hence they don’t radiate.
A plot of the input impedance as a function of logarithm of the excitation frequency
shows a periodic variation.
 LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS
• In spherical co-ordinates (r, θ , Ф ) the shape of the
structure can be written as
• θ = periodic function of [ b ln (r)]

• θ = θ o sin [ b ln ( r/ ro )]
• from above equation it is clear that the values of θ are
repeated whenever the logarithm of the radial frequency
ln(ω) = ln(2πf ) differs by 2π /b.

• The performance of the system is then periodic as a

function of the logarithm of the frequency; thus the name
logarithmic (Log)periodic.
 LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS

• a log-periodic antenna (LP, also known as a log-periodic array) is

a broadband, multi-element, unidirectional, narrow-beam
antenna that has impedance and radiation characteristics that are
regularly repetitive as a logarithmic function of the excitation
frequency.
• The individual components are often dipoles, as in a log-periodic
dipole array (LPDA). Log-periodic antennas are designed to be
self-similar and are thus also fractal antenna arrays.
• The length and spacing of the elements of a log-periodic antenna
increase logarithmically from one end to the other.
 LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS
• Major advantage
– independence of radiation resistance and radiation
pattern to frequency
• Large bandwidth ratio
– highest to the lowest operating frequency of 10:1 or
greater
• Gain
– unidirectional/bidirectional and low-to-moderate
– higher gain may be achieved by adding more arrays
 LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS

• Radiation pattern
– maximum radiation is outward from the small end

• Antenna input impedance

– varies periodically the log of frequency

• Often used in HF & VHF communication

A planar log periodic structure
 LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS
• It consists of a metal strip whose edges are specified
by the angle α/2 .
• In order to specify the length from the origin to any
point on the structure, a distance characteristic must
be included.
• The element spacing also decrease towards the front
of the array where the smallest elements are
located.
 LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS

• Basic geometric structure is repeated but with changing size

of structure.
• Dimensions increases in proportion to distance from origin.
• It has number of dipoles of different length and spacing.
• It is fed by balance two wire transmission line which is
transposed between each adjacent pair of dipoles.
 LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS
• It is fed at narrow end.
• Dipole length increases along antenna such that phase angle
remains constant.
• Length and spacing are graduated in such a way that certain
dimensions of adjacent elements bear a constant ratio with
each other.
• simpler, lighter in weight, cheaper, and less
wind resistant antenna.

• Non planar geometries in the form of a V,

formed by bending one arm relative to the
other, are also widely used.

• If the wires or the edges of the plates are

linear (instead of curved), the geometries
reduce, respectively, to the trapezoidal tooth
log-periodic structures.
• Strong current concentration at or near
edges of conductors.
• These simplifications result in more
convenient fabrication geometries with
basically no loss in operational performance.
• Experimentally it is proved that performance
of planar as well as wire antenna is almost
identical.
• the geometric ratio
of the log-periodic
structure by

• width of the antenna

slot by
• The geometric ratio τ defines the period of
operation.
• if two frequencies f1 and f2 are one period
apart, they are related to the geometric ratio τ
 Dipole Array
• It consists of a sequence of side-by-side parallel linear
dipoles forming a coplanar array. Although this
antenna has slightly smaller directivities than the Yagi
-Uda array (7-12 dB), they are achievable and
maintained over much wider bandwidths.

• While the geometrical dimensions of the Yagi - Uda

array elements do not follow any set pattern, the
lengths (ln ’s), spacings (Rn ’s), diameters (dn ’s), and
even gap spacings at dipole centers (sn ’s) of the log-
periodic array increase logarithmically as defined by
the inverse of the geometric ratio τ .
• Another parameter that is usually associated
with a log-periodic dipole array is the spacing
factor σ

• Straight lines through the dipole ends meet to

form an angle 2α which is a characteristic of
frequency independent structures.
 Feed Elements of LOG-PERIODIC
ANTENNAS
• There are two basic methods, as shown in Figures 11.9(b) and
11.9(c), which could be used to connect and feed the elements of a
log-periodic dipole array. In both cases the antenna is fed at the
small end of the structure.

• The currents in the elements of Figure 11.9(b) have the same phase
relationship as the terminal phases. If in addition the elements are
closely spaced, the phase progression of the currents is to the right.
This produces an end-fire beam in the direction of the longer
elements and interference effects to the pattern result.
• It was recognized that by mechanically crisscrossing or
transposing the feed between adjacent elements, as
shown in Figure 11.9(c), a 180◦ phase is added to the
terminal of each element. Since the phase between the
adjacent closely spaced short elements is almost in
opposition, very little energy is radiated by them and
their interference effects are negligible. However, at the
same time, the longer and larger spaced elements
radiate.

• The mechanical phase reversal between these elements

produces a phase progression so that the energy is
beamed end fire in the direction of the shorter elements.
• The most active elements for this feed arrangement are
those that are near resonant with a combined radiation
pattern toward the vertex of the array.
Yagi uda array
 Yagi Fundamentals
• A Yagi-Uda array consists of 2 or more simple
antennas (elements) arranged in a line.
• The RF power is fed into only one of the antennas
(elements), called the driver.
• Other elements get their RF power from the driver
through mutual impedance.
• The largest element in the array is called the
reflector.
• There may be one or more elements located on the
opposite side of the driver from the reflector.
These are directors.
 Yagi uda array
• Only the driven element is connected directly to the feeder;
• The other elements couple to the transmitter power through
the local electromagnetic fields which induce currents in
them.
• The spacing and length of the various components
significantly affect the performance characteristics of the
antenna.
 The 2 element Yagi
• The parasitic element in a 2- element yagi may be a
reflector or director
• Designs using a reflector have lower gain (~6.2 dBi)
and poor FB (~10 dB), but higher input Z (32+j49 )
• Designs using a director have higher gain (6.7 dBi)
and good FB (~20 dB) but very low input Z (10 )
• It is not possible simultaneously to have good Zin, G
and FB
 The 3 element Yagi

• High gain designs (G~ 8 dBi) have narrow BW and low input
Z
• Designs having good input Z have lower gain (~ 7 dBi), larger
BW, and a longer boom.
• Either design can have FB > 20 dB over a limited frequency
range
• It is possible to optimize any pair of the parameters Zin, G
and FB
 Larger yagis (N > 3)

• There are no simple yagi designs, beyond 2 or 3 element

arrays.
• Given the large number of degrees of freedom, it is possible
to optimize BW, FB, gain and sometimes control sidelobes
through proper design. (although such designs are not
obvious)
• Good yagi designs can be created using antenna modeling
software
• Difference between yagi uda and log periodic
• The Yagi consists of one driven element, plus one or more shorter
elements acting as directors placed in front of it, plus one or more
longer elements acting as reflectors placed behind it.
• Technically, the driven element is cut and the feed system is matched for
a specific frequency . The farther from that frequency, the more the
performance of the Yagi degrades.
• While only one element of the Yagi–Uda array is directly energized by the
feed line, while the others operate in a parasitic mode, all the elements of
the log-periodic array are connected.
• The Log Periodic array consists of a uniformly tapered array of many
elements.
• The lengths of the elements and the spacing between them decrease by a
constant ratio as you move down the array, and all of the elements are
electrically connected to the feed line.
The objective is an array that's very broad in frequency.
• The idea is that at any given frequency within the total range of the array,
the element closest to a resonant length will radiate/receive best, those in
front of it will function as directors, and those behind it will function as
reflectors
• Then the basic antenna, driven element with both Reflector
and Director is called three elements Yagi-Uda, with increased
directivity or beam Gain.
More than one parasitic element should be axially added in the front of the
driven element and each one is called director. As the reflector, the directors
(D1…Dn) has not wired directly to the feed point. As the number of director
grow, it increase the directivity as the beam gain of the Yagi-Uda system
array.
2 element yagi
• Yagi-Uda is the correct complete name for any antenna with
three or more elements in the array.
• Yagi is the name for the two elements, a driven element and
the reflector, or the driven element and one director alone.
• Yagi is well-accepted term for any linear end-fire array like
the Yagi-Uda defined above.
• The television antenna set, FM and amateur radio antennas
commonly named Yagi are really Yagi-Uda antenna when
three or more elements in the system array.
Log periodic Yagi-uda