Electromagnetic Compatibility B

MSc in Electrical Engineering

Radiation Pattern and Antenna Parameters

Prof. Sergio A. Pignari
POLITECNICO DI MILANO
Dept. of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering
Electrical Engineering Section
Milan, Italy
Email: sergio.pignari@polimi.it
Website: http://www.deib.polimi.it/
EMC Group @ POLIMI

POLIMI, AY 2014-15

Antenna Pattern
EMC Group @ POLIMI

The antenna pattern:

describes the far-field directional properties of an
antenna when measured at a fixed distance from
the antenna
is a three-dimensional plot that displays the
strength of the power density as a function of the
direction
The direction being specified by the:
zenith angle
azimuth angle
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Antenna Pattern contd

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The directional pattern of any antenna is described

in terms of the normalized radiation intensity F(, ),
defined as the ratio of the power density S(R, , ) to
Smax, the maximum value of S at a specified range R:

F ( , )

S ( R, , )
Smax

(dimensionless)

For the Hertzian dipole,

S ( R, ) Smax sin 2

F ( , ) F ( ) sin 2
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Antenna Pattern contd

EMC Group @ POLIMI

For a Hertzian dipole, F is doughnut-shaped with

Fmax = 1 in the broadside direction ( = 90)

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Antenna Pattern contd

EMC Group @ POLIMI

Example of a three-dimensional pattern of a narrowbeam antenna

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Antenna Pattern contd

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Often it is of interest to characterize the variation of

F(, ) in the form of two-dimensional plots in specific
planes in the pherical coordinate system
The two plane most commonly specificed are:
1. The elevation plane (also called the plane),
corresponding to a constant value of
2. The azimuth plane (also calle the plane),
specified by = 90, and corresponding to xy
plane
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Antenna Pattern contd

EMC Group @ POLIMI

Some antennas show highly directive patterns with

narrow beams.
In these cases, it is convenient to plot the antenna
pattern on a dB scale, i.e.,

FdB 10log10 F ( , )
This graphical representation allows a convenient
interpretation of the directional distribution and
amplitude of the radiation lobes

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Antenna Pattern contd

EMC Group @ POLIMI

Main lobe
An antenna is said to be fairly directive when most of
the energy is radiated through a narrow angular
range called the main lobe
Side lobes and back lobes
The antenna pattern, in addition to the main lobe,
usually exhibits side lobes and back lobes
For most applications, these extra lobes are
considered undesirable because they represent
wasted energy for transmitting antennas and
potential interference for receiving antennas
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Antenna Pattern contd

EMC Group @ POLIMI

Examples of normalized radiation patterns

Polar form

Rectangular form
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Beam Dimensions
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Pattern solid angle

For an antenna with a single main lobe, the pattern
solid angle p describes the equivalent width of the
main lobe of the antenna pattern
It is defined as

F ( , ) d

(sr)

An isotropic antenna is antenna with F(, ) = 1 in all

direction.
For an isotropic antenna p = 4 (sr)
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Beam Dimensions contd

EMC Group @ POLIMI

The pattern solid angle defines an equivalent cone

over which all the radiation of the actual antenna is
concentrated wih equal intensity, equal to the
maximum of the actual pattern

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Beam Dimensions contd

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3-dB Beamwidth
The half-power beamwidth is used to characterize
the width of the main lobe in a given plane.
It is defined as the angular width of the main lobe
between the angles (1, 2) at which the magnitude of
F(, ) is equal to half of its peak value (3dB on a
decibel scale), i.e.,

2 1
For the Hertzian dipole, F() is maximum at = 90,
and

135 45 90

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Antenna Directivity
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The directivity D of an antenna is defined as the ratio

of its maximum normalized radiation intensity, Fmax
(which by definition is equal to 1) to the average
value of F(, ) over the solid angle 4, i.e.,

Fmax
1

1
Fav
F ( , ) d
4 4
4

(dimensionless)
p

where p is the pattern solid angle

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Antenna Directivity contd

EMC Group @ POLIMI

Note that:
1. The narrower p the greater is the antenna
directivity
2. For an isotropic antenna p = 4, hence its
directivity is

Disotropic 1
3. By recalling that F = S / Smax,

Prad

dPrad R 2

R 2 Smax

S ( R, , ) d
4

F ( , ) d R 2 Smax p

(W)
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Antenna Directivity contd

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D can be expressed as

4 R 2 Smax Smax

D
Prad
Sav

where

Sav Sisotropic

Prad
4 R 2

therefore, D represents the ratio of the maximum

power density radiated by the antenna under
consideration to the power density radiated by
an isotropic antenna
4. Usually, D is expressed in decibels, i.e.,

DdB 10log10 D

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Antenna Directivity contd

EMC Group @ POLIMI

Hertzian dipole
For the Hertzian dipole,

F ( , ) d
4

4
2

sin 3 d d

4
2

4
3

3
1.5
2

or, in decibels,

DdB 10log10 1.5 1.76 dB

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Radiation Efficiency and Gain

EMC Group @ POLIMI

Of the total power Pt supplied to the antenna, a part,

Prad, is radiated into space, and the remainder, Ploss,
is dissipated as heat loss in the antenna structure.
The radiation efficiency is defined as

Prad
Pt

The antenna gain is defined as

4 R 2 Smax
G
Pt
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Radiation Efficiency and Gain

EMC Group @ POLIMI

By comparing the antenna gain with its directivity

4 R 2 Smax
G
,
Pt

4 R 2 Smax
D
Prad

It is straigthforward to note that

4 R 2 Smax 4 R 2 Smax Prad

G
D
Prad
Pt
P
t
Pt
Prad
D

(dimensionless)

The gain accounts for ohmic losses in the antenna

material, whereas the directivity does not
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Radiation Efficiency and Gain

EMC Group @ POLIMI

Since

Prad

1 2
| I 0 | Rrad ,
2

Ploss

1 2
| I 0 | Rloss
2

where |I0| is the magnitude of the sinusoidal current

exciting the antenna, the antenna efficiency takes
the form

Prad
Prad

Pt
Prad Ploss
Rrad
Rrad Rloss
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