In 2014, Toyon Research Corporation donated a 6’x6’x8’ anechoic chamber to the Cal Poly EE department to advance student education in the areas of antennas and wireless communications. An anechoic chamber is a room designed to suppress electromagnetic radiation reflections so that accurate measurement of radio frequency (RF) systems such as wireless radios and antennas can take place. Despite the fact that Cal Poly already has a larger anechoic chamber, primarily used for antenna characterization, it is the purpose of this project to design, code, and equip the new chamber so that it performs at least as good, or better than, the existing chamber. Radiation pattern is a key characteristic that describes the directionality or gain of an antenna, and it is important for quantifying and qualifying how an antenna will perform as part of a wireless communication system. Radiation pattern measurement can be time consuming because it requires measuring an antenna’s transmission or reception in in all directions. In both the old and new antenna measurement systems (AMS), a vector network analyzer (VNA) measures signals transmitted between the antenna under test (AUT) and an RF field probe within the antireflective environment of the anechoic chamber. The new system synchronizes VNA measurement with the rotation of the AUT using the automation software LabVIEW and a Sunol Sciences FS-121 antenna positioner. Then, Matlab plots the data collected by LabVIEW as well as calculates useful antenna metrics including half power beam width (HPBW) and directivity. LabVIEW also makes the AMS easy to operate because of its graphical user interface. The new anechoic chamber completes measurements faster than Cal Poly’s existing chamber, with good accuracy and ease of use. The new chamber works best with smaller antennas at frequencies up to 6 GHz and beyond. Radiation patterns have good SNR, and match with simulations and measurements done in the larger chamber. However, due to its smaller size the new AMS is not a replacement for the existing larger system when testing antennas larger than 1 m or at frequencies below 2 GHz.

Research on multiple antenna systems has been a hot topic in recent years due to the demands for higher transmission rate and more reliable link in rich scattering environment in wireless communications. Using multiple antennas at both the transmitter side and the receiver side increases the channel capacity without additional frequency spectrum and transmitted power. However, due to the limited space at the size-limited terminal devices, the most critical problem in designing multiple antennas is the severe mutual coupling among them. The aim of this thesis is to provide compact, decoupled and efficient multiple antenna designs for terminal devices. At the same time, we propose a simple and cost effective method in multiple antenna measurement. All these efforts contribute to the development of terminal devices for the fourth generation wireless communication. The background and theory of multiple antenna systems are introduced first, in which three operating schemes of multiple antenna systems are discussed. Critical factors influencing the performance of multiple antenna systems are also analyzed in details. To design efficient multiple antenna systems in compact terminals, several decoupling methods, including defected ground plane, current localization, orthogonal polarization and decoupling networks, are proposed. The working mechanism and design procedure of each method are introduced, and their effectiveness is compared. Those methods can be applied to most of the terminal antennas, reducing the mutual coupling by at least 6dB. In some special cases, especially for low frequency bands below 1GHz, the chassis of the device itself radiates like an antenna, which complicates the antenna decoupling. Thus, we extend the general decoupling methods to the cases when the chassis is excited. Based on the characteristic mode analysis, three different solutions are provided, i.e., optimizing antenna locations, localizing antenna currents and creating orthogonal modes. These methods are applied to mobile phones, providing a more reliable link and a higher transmission rate, which are evaluated by diversity gain and channel capacity, respectively. In order to measure the performance of multiple antenna systems, it is necessary to obtain the correlation coefficients. However, the traditional measurement technique, which requires the phase and polarization information of the radiation patterns, is very expensive and time consuming. In this thesis, a more practical and convenient method is proposed. Fairly good accuracy is achieved when it is applied to various kinds of antennas. To design a compact and efficient multiple antenna system, besides the reduction of mutual coupling, the performance of each single antenna is also important. The techniques for antenna reconfiguration are demonstrated. Frequency and pattern reconfigurable antennas are constructed, providing more flexibility to multiple antenna systems. / QC 20120604

Lors de cette thèse, on a développé un banc automatisé de relevé du diagramme de rayonnement particulièrement pour des antennes millimétriques avec faible directivité. On propose trois méthodes d’alimentation. La première méthode développée a été de concevoir une nouvelle sonde ayant un accès micro-coaxial de plus de 5cm afin de réduire la zone de masquage au minimum. Associée à une configuration de type flip-chip inversée, cette méthode a permis d’avoir une réduction de la zone de masquage de 80° à 20°. La deuxième méthode a été de concevoir une liaison souple par film souple de Kapton. Cette méthode présente l’avantage de placer une plus grande partie des connexions métalliques sous un plan de masse, mais nécessite une connexion optimale à la puce. Les résultats obtenus présentent une zone de masquage pratiquement inexistante, et sont conformes à l’état de l’art. La troisième méthode SER est basée sur la mesure de l’antenne sans placer de sondes ou de connecteurs spéciaux, mais en utilisant un système à charges connues. La simulation nous montre qu'il nous manque une dynamique par ces trois charges. / In this thesis, we designed and built a new 3D test bench, particularly for low-directivity integrated antennas at millimeter-wave frequencies. We proposed three feeding techniques for the antenna under test (AUT): a probe-fed technique, a flexible-transmission-line-fed technique and a radar-cross-section (RCS) method. The probe-fed method was developed with a customized probe, which involves an elongated (50 mm) coaxial line between the probe tip and the probe body, wherein the probe body is reversed (relative to the conventional measurement configuration) so it lies below the plane of the AUT. This method reduces the range of angles that are masked from 80° (for a conventional probe setup) to 20°. The second method was developed using a flexible transmission line with a modified flip-chip connection to the AUT. This method completely eliminates the masked zone. The third method characterizes the radiation pattern using a radar cross-section (RCS) method. This method requires neither a probe system nor connectors. However the simulation results demonstrate that there is insufficient variation in the ratio of received power to incident power as the load on the AUT is varied in order to make precise measurement with conventional measurement equipment.

The aim of this work was to prepare measuring workplace, perform the verication measurement, including the measurement phase, on the cylindrical surface. Measured data were compared with theoretical assumptions and were calculated directional patterns. Probes for measurement in the near sield were designed and realized.

There is currently a demand of mm‑wave on‑chip antennas to enable all kinds of new applications in several different areas. But the development requires, among other things, special equipment used during the measurement phase due to the small dimensions and the high frequencies. In this project a robotic measurement system, SAX (Single Arm eXtra), was designed and constructed at Micro and Nanosystems (MST) department at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden). The purpose of the SAX is to enable radiation pattern measurements of on‑chip antennas ( 140 GHz to 325 GHz ), whether the boresight is vertical or horizontal along with other requirements, by moving a converter with the measurement antenna around the antenna in question. Several alternative designs for the basic construction, both from other works and invented by the author, were analyzed based on the requirements for this project and other limitations. The chosen unique design, the SAX, is very compact and uses only one stepper motor. Several parts have been developed in this project to ensure the proper functionality of the SAX. That includes a main operator program, a motor input signal generating program, a motor input signal executing system, a security system, and a system for controlled rotation of the SAX. For the input signal to the motor two different algorithms to generate the time delays were developed and tested. They were adapted to make the motor manage the sweeps of an ever‑changing load with high inertia during acceleration and deceleration. One of them was developed to make the time delay array generation much more efficient albeit with larger approximation error. The SAX worked well and should be rather easy‑to‑use regarding the operation of the system, from the physical maneuvering to utilizing the sub‑systems to the running of the main operator program. It fulfilled the specific requirements by enable a cross pattern measurement from  -60° to +60°  both from above and from the side, adjustment of the radius between 15cm to 45cm , adjustment 10cm in height, to be rotated along the floor in steps of 1°, measurement steps of 1° with an accuracy of less than 0,5° (the largest error was measured to be ≤ 0,461°). However, some calibration work needs to be done before the optimal performance of the system is reached. As a verification of the operation of the system data from measurements of open‑ended waveguides was presented. / Det finns en efterfrågan på chipantenner för millimetervågor eftersom de kan möjliggöra allehanda produkter inom flera olika områden. Forskningen på dessa ställer dock bl.a. speciella krav på utrustning som används under testmätningsfasen p.g.a. de små dimensionerna och den höga frekvensen. I detta projekt har ett robotsystem, SAX (Single Arm eXtra), utformats och konstruerats på avdelningen för Mikro- och nanosystem på KTH. Syftet med SAX är att mäta högfrekventa chipantenner ( 140 GHz till 325 GHz ) genom att förflytta en frekvensomvandlare med tillhörande mätantenn i en cirkulär bana runt antennen ifråga, oavsett om den är riktad vertikalt eller horisontellt och givet andra kravspecifikationer. Flera designalternativ för den grundläggande konstruktionen, både från andras arbeten och framtagna av författaren själv, har analyserats utifrån kravspecifikation för detta projekt och andra begränsningar. Den valda unika designen, SAX, är väldigt kompakt och använder sig bara av en stegmotor. För att möjliggöra funktionen i den slutgiltiga produkten har flera delar tagits fram vilka inkluderar ett operatörsprogram, ett program för genererandet av motorstyrsignaler, ett program för motorstyrning, ett säkerhetssystem och ett rotationssystem för kontrollerad rotation av SAX. För genererandet av motorstyrsignaler i form av tidsfördröjda pulser framtogs två olika algoritmer. De ger anpassade accelerations- och retardationssignaler för att motorn ska klara av att förflytta en föränderlig last med stor tröghet. En av dessa framtogs med syfte att mycket effektivt generera pulstiderna om än med större approximationsfel. SAX fungerade tillfredsställande och torde vara ganska lättanvänd med tanke på vad systemet kräver av operatören, från att fysiskt manövrera systemet till att använda delsystemen till att använda operatörsprogrammet. Systemet uppfyllde de givna specifika kraven genom att möjliggöra mätningar i form av ett kryssmönster från -60° till +60°  både ovanifrån och från sidan, radiejustering från 15cm till 45cm , höjdjustering över 10cm , rotation över golvet i steg om 1° , mätningar i steg om 1° med en noggrannhet på 0,5° (den största avvikelsen uppmättes till ≤ 0,461°). Vidare kalibrering behöver dock utföras för att utnyttja den fulla potentialen hos konstruktionen. För att verifiera funktionsdugligheten för systemet presenterades data från mätningar gjorda på öppna vågledare.

Les objectifs de ce travail concernent l'étude, la conception et la caractérisation d'antennes miniatures actives ou passives, large bande ou bande étroite fonctionnant en bandes MF, HF et VHF. Le manuscrit est divisé en cinq parties : La première partie présente un système de caractérisation d'antennes qui a été développé, validé et utilisé pour tous les aériens conçus. Ce système, basé sur une cellule à plaque parallèles (PPC), permet un large spectre de mesures telles que la mesure du gain, du point de compression, de l'intermodulation et de la sensibilité via une méthode rayonnée, particulièrement intéressante dans le cas des antennes actives intégrées. La deuxième partie concerne les antennes solénoïdales sur ferrite. L'utilisation de simulateurs électromagnétiques 3D a permis d'obtenir des résultats qui sont comparés à la théorie proposée dans la littérature. Les principaux systèmes d'adaptation d'impédance sont également étudiés. La troisième partie met en avant la possibilité de concevoir des antennes à substrat ferromagnétique de géométrie non conventionnelle en utilisant des matériaux composites. Deux antennes miniatures fabriquées et fonctionnant en bande VHF permettent d'illustrer ce point. Dans la quatrième partie, nous présentons un concept d'antennes à substrat ferromagnétique partiellement saturé. L'utilisation d'une source de champ magnétique statique associée à un matériau initialement dispersif permet de constater un certain nombre de phénomènes intéressants, tels que l'amélioration de l'efficacité tout en préservant l'adaptation de l'antenne ou bien la création de directivité sur des antennes électriquement très compactes. La dernière partie présente la valorisation du travail à travers un projet de télécommunication hertzienne longue portée s'inscrivant dans le cadre de la navigation maritime. / The objectives of this work concern the study, the design and the measurement of miniaturized passive and active, broadband and narrowband antennas for MF, HF and VHF frequency bands. The thesis is divided into five parts : The first part deals with a measurement system, which has been developed, validated and used for all conceived aerials. The system is based on a parallel plate cell (PPC) and allows an evaluation of the gain, the compression point, the interception point and the sensitivity using a radiative method particularly useful in the case of active integrated antennas. The second part concerns solenoidal ferrite antennas. The results obtained from electromagnetic 3D simulators were compared to the state of the art theory. Main matching technics have also been studied. The third part put the light on the possibility of development of arbitrary shaped antennas on a ferromagnetic substrate using a composite material. Two antennas developed for the VHF band, confirm this point. In the fourth part, we present a concept of antennas on a partially saturated ferromagnetic substrate. A static magnetic field associated with an initially lossy material brings up some interesting phenomena such as an increased efficiency without a degradation of the impedance matching or the directivity with very small antennas. The last part presents an application of the work across a project dedicated to long distance telecommunications in marine navigation.

La technologie d'identification par radiofréquence (RFID) a eu un essor très important ces dernières années notamment grâce à sa configuration polyvalente et aux innombrables possibilités d'intégration offertes par cette technologie notamment avec l'apparition d'un nouveau contexte applicatif celui des objets connectés. Depuis quelques années, des applications de la RFID UHF en champ proche ont été notamment développées afin de surmonter les problèmes liés à la dégradation de lecture des tags lorsqu'ils sont placés dans des milieux fortement perturbateurs. Les travaux de recherche présentés dans cette thèse s'intéressent à l'étude de la technologie RFID UHF en zones de champ proche et de champ lointain. Les études portent plus particulièrement sur la conception d'antennes lecteur et d'antennes tag ainsi que sur les méthodes de caractérisation des systèmes RFID en zones de champ proche et de champ lointain. Une étude sur les caractéristiques des champs rayonnées par une antenne est réalisée afin de souligner les critères les plus pertinents en vue de concevoir des antennes pour les lecteurs RFID, performantes en zone de champ proche. A partir de l'état de l'art sur les antennes tags et les méthodologies de conception classiques, une nouvelle approche de conception est développée qui vise à améliorer la conception d'antennes tags en intégrant une vision appropriée pour tenir compte du niveau de puissance espéré dans une application donnée. Enfin avec pour objectif la caractérisation des tags RFID UHF, d'une part une approche est proposée permettant l'identification de familles de tags, et d'autre part, une procédure innovante pour la mesure de l'efficacité du transfert de puissance est proposée et validée expérimentalement. / The Radiofrequency Identification technology (RFID) has had a huge growth these last years, due to its versatility and the uncountable possibilities to integrate this technology in many different application (tracking and inventory of goods, access control, supply chain, etc.), and in particular the brand new context of internet of things projects. For some years, the near field UHF RFID applications has been developed in order to overcome the problems related to degradations of tag's read range when needing to use it in a perturbing environment. The research work presented in this thesis come as a study of the UHF RFID in near field and far field zones. This study focus more particularly on the design of reader and tag antennas and on the characterization method in near field and far field zones. A study on the characteristics of fields outgoing from an antenna has been made, in order to underline the important criteria for the design of performant UHF RFID reader antennas in near field zone. From the state of art about tag antennas design and classical methodologies, we propose a new approach that aims improving the design of tag antennas in a more suitable point of view that is getting the expected power level in a given application. Finally, with an objective to characterize UHF RFID tags, we first propose a new approach enabling the identification of tag families, and then propose a new innovating power transfer efficiency measurement procedure, that has been validated experimentally.