EEE381B

Aerospace Systems
& Avionics
Foundation
Antenna Theory
Part 2 – Antenna Types

Dr Ron Smith
Outline
1. Antenna selection
2. Antenna types
3. Parabolic antennas
4. Phased array antennas
5. In class exercises

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1. Antenna selection
 Selection of an appropriate antenna for a
system is highly application dependent
 Factors include:
 Angular coverage
 Frequency of operation & bandwidth
 Polarization
 Power gain

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2. Antenna types [2]
Angular Polarization Bandwidth Type
Coverage
Linear Narrow Whip, dipole, loop
360° Wide Biconical, swastika
azimuth Circular Narrow Helix
Wide Conical spiral
Linear Narrow Yagi, dipole array
Directional Wide Log periodic, horn, dish*
Circular Narrow Horn with polarizer
Wide Cavity-backed spiral, dish*
* Dish characteristics depend on the feed

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2.1 Dipole

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: vertical  TV “Rabbit ears”
 Beamwidth: 80° x 360°  FM radio (folded dipole)
 Bandwidth: 10%  Radio mast transmitters
 Gain: 2 dB

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2.1.1 Simplified Radiation Patterns

Elevation, El

Azimuth, Az

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2.2 Whip
El

Az

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: vertical  Automobile radio and satellite
 Beamwidth: 45° x 360° signals
 Bandwidth: 10%  Military (army)
 Gain: 0 dB communications

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2.3 Loop
El

Az

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: horizontal  AM Broadcasting
 Beamwidth: 80° x 360°
 Bandwidth: 10%
 Gain: -2 dB

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2.4 Helical
El & Az

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: circular (axial mode)  Mobile communications
 Beamwidth: 50° x 50°  GPS
 Bandwidth: 70%  Space communication
 Gain: 10 dB  Animal tracking

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2.5 Yagi
El

Az

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: horizontal  WWII airborne radar
 Beamwidth: 90° x 50°  Amateur radio
 Bandwidth: 5%
 Gain: 5 to 15 dB

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2.6 Log Periodic
El

Az

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: vertical / horizontal  Amateur radio
 Beamwidth: 80° x 60°
 Bandwidth: 10 to 1
 Gain: 6 to 8 dB

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2.7 Cavity Backed Spiral
El & Az

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: circular  Radar altimeter
 Beamwidth: 80° x 80°  Electronic warfare
 Bandwidth: 9 to 1
 Gain: -15 to +3 dB

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2.8 Conical Spiral
El & Az

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: circular  Ground penetrating radar
 Beamwidth: 60° x 60°  Electronic warfare
 Bandwidth: 4 to 1
 Gain: 5 to 8 dB

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2.9 Horn
El

Az

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: linear / circular  Radio astronomy
 Beamwidth: 40° x 30°  Electronic warfare
 Bandwidth: 4 to 1  Antenna testing
 Gain: 4 to 10 dB

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2.9.1 Largest Horn Antenna

It was from this historic radio astronomy horn antenna that

microwave background radiation was discovered, helping to
confirm the “Big Bang” theory

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2.10 Parabolic
El & Az

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: depends on feed  Satellite TV
 Beamwidth: 0.5° x 30°  Cellular telephony, Wi-Fi
 Bandwidth: varies  Radio astronomy
 Gain: 10 to 55 dB  Search & track radar

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2.11 Phased Array
El

Az

Characteristics Typical Applications

 Polarization: linear / circular  Radio broadcasting
 Beamwidth: 0.5° x 30°  Search & track radar
 Bandwidth: varies  Weather radar
 Gain: 10 to 40 dB  (severe storm watch)

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2.11.1 Military Phased Array Usage

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3. Parabolic antennas
 Parabolic antennas are a very
common and versatile type of
high gain antenna.
 Well behaved relationships
exist among the following
parameters:
 the size of the dish’s reflector
 its operating frequency
 effective antenna area and
 its efficiency

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3.1 Parabolic Antenna Gain

 Given the diameter of a parabolic antenna

and its operating frequency, the gain can
be estimated.
 For an antenna with an efficiency of 55%:
G = -42.2 + 20 log (Dm) + 20 log (fMHz)

Again, this equation is only valid for the units specified!

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3.1.1 Parabolic Antenna Gain[2]

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3.2 Effective antenna area

 Similarly the gain of a parabolic antenna

can be estimated from the effective area.
 When effective area is measured in m2:
G = -38.6 + 10 log (Ae) + 20 log(fMHz)

 Conversely if the gain of a dish is known,

the effective area can be computed as:
Ae = 38.6 + G – 20 log(fMhz); units are in dBsm

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3.3 Parabolic antenna beamwidth

 A roughly linear relationship exits between the

beamwidth of a parabolic dish and its gain (in
dB).The more focused the energy (narrower
beamwidth), the more gain is achieved.
A 55% efficiency dish with a small bandwidth (10%):
G = -20 log (θB) + 44; where θB is the half-power beamwidth
 Therefore
3-db θB = 10-(G-44)/20 ; units in angle

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3.3.1 Parabolic antenna beamwidth[2]

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4. Phased array antennas
 Phased array antennas have become an
extremely important type of radar for military
use, particularly airborne use.
 In radar applications, phased arrays permit near
instant switching from one target to another, and
from search to track mode.
 Phased arrays combined with “smart skin”
technology have radically altered airborne
avionics designs.

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4.1 Basic phased array architecture
Steering angle, s

Element spacing

Phase Phase Phase Phase Phase Phase

Shifter Shifter Shifter Shifter Shifter Shifter

Signal Divider /
Combiner
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4.2 Phased array gain

 The gain of a phase array antenna is a function

of the number of elements in the array and the
gain of the individual elements
 For half-wavelength element spacing, the gain at
boresight is given by:
G = 10 log (N) + Ge
 The gain off-boresight is reduced by the cosine of the
steering angle, s:
G = 10 log (N) + Ge + 10 log (cos s)

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4.3 Phased array beamwidth

 The beamwidth of a phased array antenna is a

function of the number of elements.
 For a half-wavelength phased array of dipole
elements the half-power beamwidth is given by:
3-dB B = 102/N
 The beamwidth at off-boresight steering angles
increases with the cosine of s :
3-dB B = (102/N) / cos(s)

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4.4 Beam steering limitations

 A phased array antenna with half-wavelength

spacing is limited to beam steering angles of
45 off boresight.
 Greater steering angles can be achieved by
reducing the element separation at the expense
of boresight gain.

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5. In-class exercises

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5.1 Quick response exercise # 1

 Consider that you are searching for an

emitter (signal) somewhere on the horizon.
 What would be the advantage of using a
dipole antenna?
 What would be the disadvantages?
 What type of antenna might be a better
choice?

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5.2 Quick response exercise # 2

 What are the basic antenna properties

sought in the design of a commercial radio
broadcast station?

 How does this compare to the antenna

properties sought in the design of an
airborne search and track radar?

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5.3 Phased array calculation exercise

 How many 2 dB dipole antenna elements

are required in a phased array to achieve
a 12 dB gain (assuming half-wavelength
element spacing)
 at boresight?
 at 45
 What is the boresight beamwidth for each
phased antenna above?

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References
1) Moir & Seabridge, “Military Avionics Systems”, American Institute
of Aeronautics & Astronautics, 2006. [Sections 2.6 & 2.7]
2) David Adamy, “EW101 - A First Course in Electronic Warfare”,
Artech House, 2000. [Chapters 2 & 3]
3) Antenna Fundamentals, laboratory manual, Lab-Volt (Quebec)
Ltd, 1996. [Unit 1]
4) Wikipedia,Radio Frequency Antenna Types,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Radio_frequency_antenna_t
ypes
5) Mark A. Hicks, "Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on
DiscoverySchool.com"

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