This dissertation investigates the application of the frequency-scanned beam of a microstrip leaky wave antenna (LWA) to track humans in the two-dimensional (2-D) range-azimuth plane. The history, operating principles and frequency-scanned properties of a microstrip LWA are first reviewed. The basic concept of using a microstrip LWA to track humans is verified by designing, building and testing a broadband microstrip LWA, developing the necessary processing algorithm, and collecting data using a vector network analyzer. A number of topics are then investigated to further advance the concept. First, the idea of combining the frequency-scanned antenna with a short-pulse ultra-wideband (UWB) radar is developed to realize a portable, real-time system for human tracking. The radar concept and the components of the system are discussed in detail. Line-of-sight and through-wall measurements of a human subject are carried out to demonstrate the performance. Second, a new LWA structure is proposed to achieve a narrower azimuth beam, which requires both a small leaky-wave attenuation constant and a long aperture. The transverse resonance method (TRM) is applied to analyze the proposed structure and the results are verified with measurements of a built prototype. Third, a new signal processing technique, compressive sensing, is applied to further improve the resolution in both the azimuth and down range dimensions. The technique is tested with simulation and measurement data and is shown to produce sharper target responses in both the down range and azimuth dimensions. Lastly, the radar cross-section (RCS) of a microstrip LWA is studied. The antenna mode scattering and structural mode scattering are modeled separately. A ray picture is provided to explain the observed time-domain features using the group delay of the leaky wave. / text

In this work, a low-complexity two-dimensional (2D) frequency-scanned antenna is proposed to image a human using a Doppler radar. It consists of two back-to-back, air-filled microstrip leaky wave antennas (LWAs). The frequency-scanned pattern of the microstrip LWA is used to determine the target bearing in one dimension. Two such elements are used as an interferometer to determine the target bearing in the other dimension. In order to pack two LWAs closely, a design is proposed to achieve a minimal disturbance on the azimuth and elevation beam patterns. The design is measured with both static and Doppler targets to demonstrate the capability to form 2D frontal images. To investigate the potential performance of using the proposed antenna to image a human, a simulator that includes a dynamic human signature model and the frequency-scanned antenna pattern is developed. A radar waveform that is different from that used for the measurement conducted with simple Doppler targets is proposed. A simple five-point human model is tested first to understand the capability of the antenna to image a human. Next, the antenna design and the radar processing parameters are studied to improve the image quality. Simulated frontal images of a walking human are generated and discussed. With a redesigned antenna and new radar processing steps, simulation shows that frontal imagery of a human undergoing motion can be generated. / text

Recent experimental investigation on FSS arrays forming waveguides (FSGs) and horns showed that incident electromagnetic energy can be guided and radiated at specific frequencies. This thesis aims to provide the theoretical understanding of the waves propagating inside a cylindrical FSS waveguide. With immediate applications on horn antennas the research deals with cylindrical guides, made entirely from double periodic arrays. The theoretical analysis begins as a standard electromagnetic boundary value problem. The formulated system of algebraic equations is solved either for the complex propagation constant, by an iterative procedure or, for the fields. The analysis makes use of the Floquet modal expansion, the current representation as a set of sub-domain basis functions and the Method of Moments. Initially, the thesis is concerned with single periodic structures, which is a special case to the analysis. The efficiency of the model to provide stable and valid results is examined. Next the elements are finite dipoles. The effects of the dipole resonance to the propagating and radiating characteristics of the FSS is closely investigated. Other aspects include the effects of the periodicity and the element size. The investigation concludes with an FSG with square loop elements. Validation of the results for some designs is made by comparison with measured data.

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Leaky-waves have been a topic of increasing interest in the last years, with diverse practical applications in many different engineering fields. From periodic, FSS, EBG or even metamaterial leaky-wave based antennas to waveguide filters and higher efficiency energy guiding, they all share a common base structure: a travelling-wave propagating within a metal encapsulation, that can be open or closed, and altered by a planar metallization of periodic nature, from which the energy may radiate. Due to the fact that these antennas are usually electrically large and the periodic printed circuit requires a certain grade of complexity, 3D commercial software is prohibitively time consuming. Also, the homebrew methods developed up to this day are either not rigorous and accurate enough or unable to deal with complex periodic geometries. At this point, the evolution of leaky-wave antennas needs a solid, efficient and versatile tool where to base the future design research on. In this work a novel simulation tool for waveguide embedded leaky-wave antennas is presented. It is based on a full-wave Method of Moments applied to the spectral domain Green Functions for a rigorous modal analysis of the finite structure. The use of Subdomain basis functions allows the software to model complex periodic geometries, overcoming a main limitation, and the analytical nature of the method combined with its 2.5D approach, results in a significant computing time reduction. It is built on a modular coding philosophy and provided with a user-friendly graphical interface, and an intuitive working procedure, making the program not only fast and accurate, but also easy to use and extend to new geometries. Finally, it is remarkable the educational potential of this new analysis software, since it identifies higher order effects as bandgaps and multi-harmonic radiation from a complete and simple modal approach.

In modern wireless communication and radar systems, filters play an important role in getting a high-quality signal while rejecting spurious and neighboring unwanted signals. The filters with reconfigurable features, such as tunable bandwidths or switchable dual bands, also play a key part both in realizing the compact size of the system and in supporting multi-communication services. The Chapters II-IV of this dissertation show the studies of the filters for microwave communication. Bandpass filters realized in ring resonators with stepped impedance stubs are introduced. The effective locations of resonant frequencies and transmission zeros are analyzed, and harmonic suppression by interdigital-coupled feed lines is discussed. To vary mid-upper and mid-lower passband bandwidths separately, the characteristic impedances of the open-circuited stubs are changed. Simultaneous change of each width of the open-circuited stub results in variable passband bandwidths. Asymmetric stepped-impedance resonators are also used to develop independently controllable dual-band (2.4 and 5.2 GHz) bandpass filters. By extending feed lines, a transmission zero is created, which results in the suppression of the second resonance of 2.4-GHz resonators. To determine the precise transmission zeros, an external quality factor at feeders is fixed while extracting coupling coefficients between the resonators. Two kinds of feed lines, such as hook-type and spiral-type, are developed, and PIN diodes are controlled to achieve four states of switchable dual-band filters. Beam-scanning features of the antennas are very important in the radar systems. Phase shifters using piezoelectric transducers and dielectric leaky-wave antennas using metal strips are studied in the Chapters V-VII of this dissertation. Meandered microstrip lines are used to reduce the size of the phase shifters working up to 10 GHz, and reflection-type phase shifters using piezoelectric transducers are developed. A dielectric film with metal strips fed by an image line with a high dielectric constant is developed to obtain wide and symmetrical beam-steering angle. In short, many techniques are presented for realizing reconfigurable filters and large beam-scan features in this dissertation. The result of this work should have many applications in various wireless communication and radar systems.

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Yes / This paper presents empirical results of an innovative beam scanning leaky-wave antenna (LWA) which enables scanning over a wide angle from -35o to +34.5o between 57 GHz and 62 GHz, with broadside radiation centered at 60 GHz. The proposed LWA design is based on composite right/left-handed transmission-line (CRLH-TL) concept. The single layer antenna structure includes a matrix of 3×9 square slots that is printed on top of the dielectric substrate; and printed on the bottom ground-plane are Π and Tshaped slots that enhance the impedance bandwidth and radiation properties of the antenna. The proposed antenna structure exhibits metamaterial property. The slot matrix provides beam scanning as a function of frequency. Physical and electrical size of the antenna is 18.7×6×1.6 mm3 and 3.43􀣅􀫙×1.1􀣅􀫙×0.29􀣅􀫙, respectively; where 􀣅􀫙 is free space wavelength at 55 GHz. The antenna has a measured impedance bandwidth of 10 GHz (55 GHz to 65 GHz) or fractional bandwidth of 16.7%. Its optimum gain and efficiency are 7.8 dBi and 84.2% at 62 GHz. / Partially supported by innovation programme under grant agreement H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016 SECRET- 722424 and the financial support from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under grant EP/E022936/1.

This thesis describes the development of antennas suitable for mobile coinmunication systems based on a dielectric rod antenna fed from circular waveguide. Pattern control of the antenna is implemented using a combination of Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) elements and metallic endcaps placed on the antenna Both linear and circular polarised feeds have been made for these antennas to ensure they are suitable for a wide range of applications. The suitability of the dominant and next, higher order, waveguide mode were investigated and conclusions drawn as to their suitability for this type of antenna. The antennas were extensively modelled using a commercial TLM based solver and the results of these simulations were compared to the comprehensive set of antenna pattern measurements and S-parameter measurements obtained for the prototype antennas.