With the rapid of growth of wireless connectivity more demand is placed on the need for innovative technologies capable of satisfying increasing user demand and network capacity. Adaptive antennas systems or most commonly known as Smart Antennas are expected to be implemented in the next generation of wireless systems. Their implementation avails in dynamic adaptation to spatial and temporal conditions affecting the quality of communication, while offering tremendous flexibility to wireless providers. However one of the major challenges facing Smart Antenna technology is the inherent complexity of the antenna structure, associated control algorithm and implemented RF components possibly contributing to the delay of commercial interest. This thesis will present various adaptive antenna configurations that utilize an embedded dielectric in order to achieve significant size reduction and mechanical rigidity while maintaining favorable electromagnetic performance. In order to constrict the lateral ground plane dimension, a cylindrical shaped hollow ground skirt was attached to the antenna structures effectively compromising between effective beam forming in the azimuth plane and physical size. The complexity of these antenna structures requires a more contemporary design approach which involved computer modeling using a commercial available Finite Element software package and optimization using a developed generic Genetic Algorithm based optimization program. A dielectric embedded 7-element monopole array antenna featuring switched parasitic elements is presented and optimized for maximum vertically polarized gain in the horizontal plane, producing an antenna structure with a radial length of less then 0.25λ and total height of 0.4&alamba which was shown to radiate a main lobe beamwidth of 80 degrees with an absolute gain of 4.8dBi at 2.45GHz. Further on a dielectric embedded 7-element monopole array antenna featuring parasitic elements terminated with finite set of terminating reactive loads is presented with a radial length of less then 0.25&alambda and total height of 0.4&alambda. The antenna structure and reactive load combination were optimized for maximum horizontal gain producing a principal main lobe with a measured gain of 5.1dBi and beamwidth of 110 degrees at 2.48GHz. Finally it was shown single and dual radiation lobes maybe produced when active monopoles elements are placed eccentric in a circular shaped dielectric material. A circular array of elements embedded in a dielectric material was realized with measured gains of single and dual beam radiation at 2.45GHz was shown to be 5.18dBi and 3.65Bi respectively with corresponding beamwidths of 78.5 degrees and 53 degrees.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/195179 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Ireland, David John, n/a |
| Publisher | Griffith University. School of Microelectronic Engineering |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.gu.edu.au/disclaimer.html), Copyright David John Ireland |
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