International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 26-29, 1992 / Town and Country Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California / In recent years, many designers have turned to digital techniques as a means of improving the fidelity of instrumentation data recorders. However, single and multi-channel recorders based on professional VHS transports are now available which use innovative methods for achieving near-perfect timebase accuracy, inter-channel timing and group delay specifications for long-duration wideband analog recording applications. This paper discusses some of the interesting technical problems involved and demonstrates that VHS cassette recorders are now a convenient and low cost proposition for high precision multi-channel wideband data recording.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation presents modal-based techniques for the effective systematic design of quadruple-ridged flared horns (QRFHs) as reflector feeds for radio astronomy applications. A new excitation technique is proposed, consisting of a quadraxial line that terminates in the quad-ridges through the back lid of the QRFH, which allows for the integration with differential low-noise amplifiers. An equivalent circuit of this quadraxial feed is presented that allows fast synthesis of optimal feeding designs for QRFHs. In addition, the quadraxial feeding network suppresses higher-order modes significantly. The effect of eliminating these unwanted modes are investigated and the quadraxial feed is shown to outperform the coaxial feed in the known detrimental aspects of the QRFH – beamwidth narrowing for increased frequency, beamwidth variation over the upper bandwidth, high cross-polarisation levels, high co-polar sidelobes and variable phase centre – for the specific QRFH designs. Ridge-loaded modes are analysed and a large number of cut-off frequencies presented which are unavailable in literature. The pure-mode excitation of the quadraxial feed allows more effective control over the modal content in the QRFH. This is exploited in a proposed design technique where the cut-off frequencies throughout the horn are used to synthesise the ridge taper profile, in order to achieve the desired modal distribution in the aperture. The proposed feeding solution is compact and therefore is also attractive for use with cryocoolers, typically employed with front-end electronics in telescopes for radio astronomy. A prototype was successfully manufactured and the mechanical implementation of the quadraxial feed proved to be much more simple than that of the conventional feed – consisting of a coaxial line realised within the thin ridges. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif stel modus gebasseerde tegnieke voor vir die effektiewe sistematiese ontwerp van viervoud gerifte oopgesperde horings (VGOHs) as weerkaatser voere vir radio astronomie toepassings. ’n Nuwe voertegniek word voorgestel, wat bestaan uit ’n kwadraksiale lyn wat termineer in die vier riwwe deur die agterkant van die VGOH, wat die integrasie met differensiële laeruis versterkers toelaat. ’n Ekwivalente stroombaan van hierdie kwadraksiale voer word aangebied vir die vinnige sintese van optimale voer ontwerpe vir VGOHs. Boonop onderdruk die kwadraksiale voer netwerk ook beduidend hoër orde modusse. Die effek van die uitskakeling van hierdie ongewensde modusse word ondersoek en die kwadraksiale voer oortref die gedrag van die koaksiale voer in die bekende nadelige aspekte van die VGOH – bundelwydte vernouing met toenemende frekwensie, bundelwydte variasie oor die boonste bandwydte, hoë kruispolarisasie vlakke, hoë kopolarisasie sybande en wisselvallige fase senter – vir die spesifieke VGOH ontwerpe. Rifgelaaide modusse word geanaliseer en ‘n groot aantal afsnyfrekwensies word aangebied wat nie beskikbaar is in literatuur nie. Die suiwermodus opwekking van die kwadraksiale voer bied meer effektiewe beheer oor die modusinhoud in die VGOH. Hierdie aspek word benut in ‘n voorgestelde tegniek waar die afsnyfrekwensies deur die horing gebruik word om die rif tapsheid profiel te sintetiseer, sodat die gewensde modale distribusie in die stralingsvlak behaal word. Die voorgestelde voer oplossing is kompak en daarom ook aantreklik vir die gebruik met krioverkoelers, wat tipies gebruik word met die voorkant elektronika in teleskope vir radio astronomie. ‘n Prototipe was suksesvol vervaardig en die meganiese implimentasie van die kwadraksiale voer toon dat dit eenvoudiger is as met die gebruiklike koaksiale voer – wat bestaan uit ‘n koaksiale lyn bewerkstellig binne die dun riwwe.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 13-16, 1986 / Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada / Predetection recording of spread-spectrum (SS) signals such as GPS transmissions is a desirable objective for both users and developers of equipment designed to receive such signals. (GPS user-equipment development is a lengthy process during which signal simulators are only partially useful.) Upon playback, GPS signals are used by the same or modified receivers so that acquisition, processing, detection and tracking loops can be altered to optimize the receiver parameters. Development of predetect SS signal recording systems is difficult to achieve in practice. Such systems not only must be of suitable phase linearity to preserve the signal content to be extracted but sometimes must also preserve the exact signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) characteristics of the recorded signals. Existing conventional test equipment is unsuitable for deriving value judgments of the quality of a predetect recording system’s output because the SS signal has a negative SNR. This paper reveals that it is possible to use, for this purpose, tape recorders now available on many test ranges in combination with auxiliary equipment similar to that designed for the U.S. Navy’s TRIDENT Program (recording C/A-code data from in-flight missile translators). The basic techniques are described in some detail to enable potential users to understand the necessary equipment concepts and evaluate the author’s approach in terms of their own applications.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Finite-difference models have been used for nearly 40 years to solve electromagnetic problems of heterogeneous nature. Further, these techniques are well known for being computationally expensive, as well as subject to various numerical artifacts. However, little is yet understood about the errors arising in the simulation of wideband sources with the finitedifference time-domain (FDTD) method. Within this context, the focus of this thesis is on two different problems. On the one hand, the speed and accuracy of current FDTD implementations is analysed and increased. On the other hand, the distortion of numerical pulses is characterised and mitigation techniques proposed. In addition, recent developments in general-purpose computing on graphics processing units (GPGPU) have unveiled new methods for the efficient implementation of FDTD algorithms. Therefore, this thesis proposes specific GPU-based guidelines for the implementation of the standard FDTD. Then, metaheuristics are used for the calibration of a FDTD-based narrowband simulator. Regarding the simulation of wideband sources, this thesis uses first Lagrange multipliers to characterise the extrema of the numerical group velocity. Then, the spread of numerical Gaussian pulses is characterised analytically in terms of the FDTD grid parameters. The usefulness of the proposed solutions to the previously described problems is illustrated in this thesis using coverage and wideband predictions in large-scale scenarios. In particular, the indoor-to-outdoor radio channel in residential areas is studied. Furthermore, coverage and wideband measurements have also been used to validate the predictions. As a result of all the above, this thesis introduces first an efficient and accurate FDTD simulator. Then, it characterises analytically the propagation of numerical pulses. Finally, the narrowband and wideband indoorto-outdoor channels are modeled using the developed techniques.

This thesis presents a novel antenna structure that satisfies the challenging requirements of an air coupled high speed ground penetrating radar (GPR). The desired GPR system is to achieve high spatial resolution and accurate inspection results while scanning at relatively high speed for highway pavement and bridge deck inspection. This work utilizes the Ultra Wide Band (UWB) antenna design to achieve both physical and electrical requirements imposed. The design procedure starts with a short survey to discuss typical UWB antennas used for GPR applications, and various tradeoffs of each type specifically when used for Air Coupled GPR applications. Our structure anatomy is presented, followed by a theory introduction that mainly focuses on achieving good impedance matching throughout the proposed antenna structure. A proof-of-concept MATLAB model is created to evaluate the preliminary physical dimensions that can achieve minimum reflections at antenna's feed point. These dimensions are then used in SolidWorks to create a 3D model that is imported later in HFSS to obtain accurate electromagnetic characteristics. Furthermore, fine tunings are performed to the antenna structure to optimize both gain and impedance matching. The SolidWorks 3-D structural model is finally used for antenna fabrication. The measurements recorded from the field experiments using the prototypes manufactured are compared to the simulation results confirming our initial findings. Both measurements and simulation results demonstrated very small reflection loss across the 700 MHz ~ 6 GHz frequency band with a very high directed gain and radiation efficiency.

Les besoins techniques et opérationnels des porteurs navals, terrestres et aériens conduisent à la conception et à l'implantation d'un nombre de plus en plus élevé d'antennes dédiées aux communications. Parallèlement, les matériaux composites sont utilisés depuis de nombreuses décennies dans les panneaux structuraux de ces porteurs en raison de leurs qualités naturelles (légèreté, performances mécaniques élevées, insensibilité à la corrosion…). L'objet de ce manuscrit concerne l'étude et le développement de matériaux composites pour des applications antennaires en hyperfréquences. Après un recensement exhaustif des caractéristiques diélectriques des différents éléments constitutifs de ces matériaux composites, la caractérisation diélectrique des matériaux composites fabriqués au Laboratoire a été réalisée via deux méthodes distinctes dans deux bandes de fréquence différentes. Parallèlement, la caractérisation électrique des tissus à base de fibres de carbone a permis d'évaluer leur possible utilisation dans la fabrication des éléments rayonnants. Dans un premier temps, deux topologies antennaires « tout composite » de géométrie carrée à base de tissus de fibres de carbone, de fibres de verre et de résine (polyester ou époxy) ont été conçues, fabriquées et caractérisées. Leurs performances similaires à celles d'antennes métalliques de référence démontrent tout l'intérêt de l'utilisation des matériaux composites en hyperfréquences. Puis, trois topologies antennaires ultra large bande en matériaux « tout composite » ont été développées spécifiquement dans le cadre du projet FUI SAMCOM (/Systèmes Antennaires en Matériaux COMposites/). La première de type Rugby-Ball couvre une octave et demi avec un gain positif et un encombrement limité à λ/4 x λ/4 x λ/10 (longueur x largeur x hauteur). La seconde configuration volumique de type dipôle et d'encombrement λ/3 x λ/3 x λ/10 couvre deux octaves et demi avec un gain toujours positif. Enfin, la troisième de structure planaire a été développée spécifiquement pour la réception de la Télévision Numérique Terrestre (TNT) et sera, à terme, intégrée dans un panneau structural d'un véhicule. / The technical and operational requirements of naval, terrestrial and aerial vehicles lead to the design and installation of a great number of antennas for communications. At the same time, composite materials have been used for many decades in structural panels of vehicles for their intrinsic qualities (lightness, high mechanical performance, insensitivity to corrosion ...). The purpose of this manuscript is the study and engineering of composite materials for antenna applications at microwaves. After an exhaustive survey of the dielectric characteristics of the various elements of composite materials, dielectric characterization of composite materials manufactured in the Laboratory was carried out using two different methods in two different frequency bands. Meanwhile, an analysis of their conductive characteristics allows carbon-fiber tissues to be used in the design of radiating elements. First, two "full-composite" square shaped antennas based on carbon-fiber tissues, glass-fiber tissues and polyester or epoxy resin have been developed, fabricated and measured. Their performance, similar to that of reference metal antennas demonstrates their relevance for microwave applications. Then, three different topologies of ultra wideband "full-composite" antennas have been specifically developed for the SAMCOM (/Antenna Systems in COMposite Materials)/ FUI project. The first, a Rugby-Ball shaped antenna, has one octave and a half of bandwidth with a positive gain and λ/4 x λ/4 x λ/10 dimensions (length x width x height). The second, a 3D dipole antenna with λ/3 x λ/3 x λ/10 dimensions, has two octaves and a half of bandwidth also with a positive gain. At last, the third antenna with a planar structure has been specifically developed for the reception of digital terrestrial television (DTT) and will be, at the end, integrated into a structural panel of a terrestrial vehicle.

A tecnologia de radar e comunicação em banda ultralarga (UWB) tem sido investigada intensamente nas últimas décadas. Esta tecnologia emprega pulsos de curta duração, que resultam em um espalhamento de energia em uma faixa ampla de frequência, fazendo com que, em transmissão de dados, o sinal apareça como ruído branco, dificultando a sua interceptação. Uma das aplicações mais promissoras da tecnologia UWB é na implementação de radares para detecção de pessoas, no monitoramento de ambientes, no uso em missões de resgate em desmoronamento de construções e na detecção de pessoas soterradas. Entretanto, diversos são os desafios para a construção de radares UWB: geração e recepção do pulso UWB, antenas, processamento, análise e visualização dos dados. Este trabalho propõe uma nova antena para aplicações de radar para visualização através da parede, e realiza a sua caracterização usando algoritmos de detecção de pessoas. Para a caracterização, o trabalho apresenta um cenário experimental que utiliza um sistema de caracterização de antena UWB. A antena proposta consiste em modificações na estrutura de uma antena antipodal, de forma a se obter alto ganho e estabilidade nos diagramas de irradiação, requisitos importantes para esse tipo de aplicação. Os resultados obtidos experimentalmente mostram que a antena proposta apresenta diagrama de irradiação direcional e principalmente alto ganho, característica importante para as aplicações de detecção. Processando-se os dados obtidos experimentalmente com algoritmos de detecção clássicos e adaptativo, verificou-se que a antena cumpre os requisitos da aplicação de detecção de pessoas. / Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radar and communication systems have been widely studied in the last decades. This technology employs very short duration pulses, resulting in energy spreaded in a very wide frequency band. In data communication applications, the signal appears as a white noise, making difficult the interception. One of the most promising applications of this technology is in radar implementation for people detection, in environment monitoring, rescue missions etc. The challenges to UWB radar implementation area diverse: pulse generation, pulse transmission and reception, antennas, and data processing, analysis and visualization. This work proposes a new antenna for through the wall (TTW) UWB radar. The antenna is characterized using people detection algorithms. A scenario, composed by a UWB antenna characterization system is presented. The antenna is a antipodal antenna modified in order to obtain high gain and stability in the irradiation diagram. Using people detection algorithms, it was verified full attendance to application requirements.

Une des problématiques qui est souvent associée aux réseaux large bande est l’apparition des lobes de réseaux, liée à la périodicité de l’espacement entre les éléments du réseau. Un autre problème dans les réseaux large bande est la fréquence de fonctionnement de l’élément du réseau. La plus basse fréquence d’opération est généralement liée à la taille de l’élément. Dans cette thèse un réseau d’anneaux concentriques a été développé. Les connections entre les spirales de polarisation opposée diminuent le coefficient de réflexion dans les fréquences basses. La topologie des anneaux concentriques a été optimisée avec des Algorithmes Génétiques pour minimiser le niveau des lobes secondaires relatifs dans les hautes fréquences. L’addition d’une contrainte de taille dans la procédure d’optimisation a assuré que le réseau soit compact. Le réseau optimisé opère entre 1 et 6.9 GHz. Le design a été d’avantage développé avec la technique WAVES avec l’inclusion d’une copie réduite en son centre, ce qu’a permis l’extension de la bande passante jusque 13 GHz. De plus, nous avons proposé un nouveau design pour le réseau de spirales connectés qui consiste en des antennes spirales disposées dans un réseau uniforme avec les bras connectés aux bras des antennes voisines. Les simulations indiquent que le réseau peut avoir une bande passante arbitrairement large selon la finitude du réseau. Un prototype a été construit et mesuré pour valider le concept. / One of the usual problems associated with wideband arrays is having the highest frequency of operation limited by the appearance of grating lobes, associated with the periodicity in the spacing between elements of the array. Another issue is the working frequency of the element of the array. The lowest frequency of operation is in general related to the size of the element. In this thesis a Concentric Ring Array of Connecting Spirals has been developed. The connections between spirals of opposite polarizations reduces the reflection coefficient at lower frequencies. The concentric rings topology had the radius and relative rotations of each ring optimized using Genetic Algorithms to minimize the RSLL at higher frequencies. The addition of a size constraint in the optimization procedure kept the array compact. The optimized array operates from 1 to 6.9 GHz. The design was then updated using the WAVES technique to include a scaled down copy in its center, extending the bandwidth of the array up to 13 GHz. Moreover, we proposed a new design for the array of connected spirals which consists of arranging spirals in a uniform array and connecting the arms of the neighboring spirals. Simulations indicate that the design can have an arbitrarily large bandwidth depending on the finiteness of the array. A prototype has been built and measured to validate the concept.

[pt] Este trabalho tem como objetivo caracterizar o canal de radiopropagação móvel a partir de resultados das medições realizadas nas faixas de 2.5 GHz e 3.5 GHz em ambiente urbano. Para alcançar tal objetivo, será utilizada a técnica de sondagem em frequência de multiportadoras, utilizando modulação OFDM e as técnicas de filtragem de perfil de retardos de potência CFAR e/ou CLEAN para identificar os multipercursos válidos. Após o processo de filtragem e processamento dos dados, será feita a comparação dos parâmetros recomendados pela recomendação ITU-R P.1411-6 validando os resultados encontrados e também gerando novos parâmetros nas faixas de 2.5 GHz e 3.5 GHz, dentro das condições de especificações das medições realizadas. / [en] This work aims to characterize the mobile radio propagation channel according to the results of the measurements in the ranges of 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz in an urban environment. To achieve this goal, we will use the frequency multicarrier sounding technique, using OFDM modulation and power delay profile (PDP) filtering techniques CFAR and CLEAN to identify valid multipath. After the filtering process, the comparison will be made of the parameters found with the ITU-R P.1411-6 validating the results and also generating new parameters in the ranges of 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz, within the terms of specifications of measurements.