Antenna Internship Report
Antenna Internship Report
Antenna Internship Report
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Bengaluru – 560019
Autonomous College Affiliated to Visvesvaraya
Technological University, Belgaum
A Report on Internship
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the degree
Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication Engineering
VIKAS K 1BM21EC199
Academic Year
2023-24
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
Coplanar waveguide is a type of electrical planar transmission line which can be fabricated using printed circuit
board technology, and is used to convey microwave-frequency signals. Coplanar waveguide (CPW) consists
of a single conducting track printed onto a dielectric substrate, together with a pair of return conductors, one to
either side of the track. All three conductors are on the same side of the substrate, and hence are coplanar.
Design Specifications:
Schematics:
1.
S-Parameter Plot:
Zo Graph:
Calculations:
2.
E and H Field Patterns:
3D Gain Plot:
3.
TASK 2
Design a dipole at the specified frequency: 60GHz
A dipole antenna is a simple radio antenna consisting of two conductive elements aligned in a straight line. It
radiates radio waves most effectively perpendicular to its axis. Commonly used in radio and
telecommunications, its length is typically half the wavelength of the frequency it is designed to transmit or
receive.
Design Specifications:
S-Parameter Plot:
4.
Schematics:
3D Gain Plot:
5.
TASK 3
Design of a patch antenna: 60GHz on Rogers 5880, 5mil thickness
A microstrip-fed patch antenna is a compact, planar antenna design commonly used in wireless communication
systems. It consists of a metallic patch mounted on a dielectric substrate, fed by a microstrip transmission line.
This configuration offers wide bandwidth, low profile, and ease of integration into circuits.
Design Specifications:
Gain Plot:
6.
Schematics:
S-Parameter Plot:
7.
TASK 4
Design of Dipole Array (2 & 4): operating frequency at 60 GHz.
• An array of dipole antennas refers to multiple dipole antennas arranged in a specific configuration.
These arrays can be in one or multiple dimensions, depending on the desired radiation pattern.
• Array of dipole antennas finds applications in various fields, including radar systems, communication
systems, and radio astronomy.
• Phased arrays utilize constructive and destructive interference to shape and steer the antenna radiation
pattern electronically, without physically moving the antenna itself.
• Phased arrays offer several advantages over traditional mechanical antennas, including rapid beam
scanning, improved tracking capabilities, and the ability to form multiple beams simultaneously.
Design Specifications:
1. Design frequency/ operating frequency: 60GHz
Schematics:
array of 2
array of 4
8.
S – Parameter Plots:
Dipole array of 4
Dipole array of 2
3D Gain Plot:
9.
E and H Field Patterns:
10.
TASK 5
Design of a patch antenna array: 2.4GHz on FR4, 1.6mm thickness
A microstrip-fed patch array antenna consists of multiple patch elements fed by a microstrip transmission line.
It offers directional radiation patterns, high gain, and wide bandwidth. Commonly used in radar,
communication, and satellite applications due to its compact size, low profile, and ease of fabrication.
Design Specifications:
Schematics:
11.
S-Parameters Plot:
3D Gain Plot:
12.
TASK 6
Probe-fed antenna design with characterization:
3.5GHz on FR4, 1.6mm.
A coaxial probe-fed antenna is a type of antenna where a probe extends into a coaxial transmission line,
exciting electromagnetic waves. This design offers broadband performance and flexibility in impedance
matching. It's commonly used in microwave applications for its simplicity and efficiency in feeding signals to
the radiating element.
Design Specifications:
Schematics:
13.
S11 Parameter:
3D Gain Plots:
14.
PROJECT
INTRODUCTION
The design of TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) 3D-printed flexible antennas for wearable applications
represents a significant advancement in modern technology. These antennas offer remarkable flexibility,
durability, and biocompatibility, making them ideal for integration into wearable devices. Leveraging 3D
printing allows for precise customization and rapid prototyping, enabling the creation of antennas tailored to
specific user needs and body contours. Such innovations promise to enhance the functionality and comfort of
wearable electronics, facilitating improved communication, health monitoring, and other smart wearable
applications, while maintaining high performance and reliability in diverse environments.
The wearable antennas can be applied to all types of aged people and also for athletes for the purpose of
monitoring. Wearable antennas should contain the following properties they should be light in weight, very low
cost, almost maintenance-free and with no installation. They should be comfortable and conformal to the body
shape, but they should be highly reliable and efficient. There are many problems with the applications of
Wearable antenna. The major problems are they should be integrated onto a garment and increase the comfort
of wearable, the antenna should be of minimum size.
15.
DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) as a base for Flexible Antennas:
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a distinctive class of polymers often
called as segmented block co-polymer and habitually used as an alternative for rubber because of soft, flexible,
and recyclable characteristics with good mechanical and physical integrity. Among all the polymers, TPU is
dominating in the global market and expected a growth of ~3.5% (CAGR) by 2024. Asia Pacific region
contributes ~60% of the total volume production of TPU because of high demand in the field of automobile,
medical, and aerospace industries.
In the terms of chemical structure, TPU is a multiphase block copolymer formed by appropriately combining
polyol, chain extender, and diisocyanate. TPU backbone chain comprises soft and rigid segments. The soft
segment built with polyols provides flexibility, while rigid segment built with isocyanate and chain extender
contributes toward mechanical and physical properties.
FR4 epoxy glass substrates are the material of choice for most PCB applications. The material is very low cost
and has excellent mechanical properties, making it ideal for a wide range of electronic component applications.
As more and more microwave systems aimed at consumer markets are developed, there is a considerable
interest in minimising the cost of these systems. Substantial cost savings could be realised by using FR4 in
place of costly PTFE based substrates for microwave circuits and antennas. This paper describes a programme
of work which has been undertaken at ERA Technology, as part of its Membership Research Programme, to
evaluate the characteristics of this material at microwave frequencies between 1 GHz and 15 GHz. It is
concluded that the use of FR4 is unlikely to be viable for antenna feeding structures due to its high losses.
However, for high density microwave circuits where path lengths are short and for broadband antenna
elements, where losses and absolute dielectric constant values are less critical, the material could be used in
place of more conventional microwave substrate materials, offering significant cost savings.
The asymmetric coplanar strip (ACS) feeding mechanism offers several advantages over the conventional
coplanar waveguide (CPW) feed mechanism. One significant advantage is the elimination of the ground plane
requirement in ACS-fed antennas, simplifying the antenna design and reducing fabrication complexity. This
absence of a ground plane allows for greater flexibility in antenna layout and optimization, enabling compact
and versatile designs tailored to specific application requirements. Additionally, ACS-fed antennas typically
exhibit improved impedance matching and broader bandwidth compared to CPW-fed counterparts, enhancing
overall performance and versatility. Furthermore, ACS feeding mechanism mitigates electromagnetic
interference (EMI) issues commonly associated with CPW, ensuring reliable and robust wireless
communication. The inherent advantages of ACS feeding, including simplified design, improved performance,
and reduced EMI susceptibility, make it a preferred choice for a wide range of wireless communication
applications.
The manufacturing of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) using 3D printing involves several key steps and
considerations, leveraging the material’s flexibility and durability for creating intricate and functional designs.
Here’s a brief overview of the process:
• Process: In FDM, TPU filament is melted and extruded layer by layer to build the final object.
• Benefits: This technique is widely accessible and cost-effective. It’s suitable for creating flexible and
durable parts.
• Considerations: TPU’s flexibility can make it challenging to feed through the printer, so specialized
extruders designed for flexible filaments are often used.
• Process: In SLS, a laser sinters powdered TPU layer by layer to form the object.
• Benefits: SLS can produce highly detailed and complex geometries without the need for support
structures.
• Considerations: This method is typically more expensive and requires post-processing to remove
excess powder.
17.
Steps in 3D Printing TPU
1. Material Preparation:
• Ensure the TPU filament or powder is dry, as moisture can affect print quality.
• For FDM, use a spool holder designed for flexible filaments to prevent tangling.
2. Printer Setup:
• Bed Preparation: Use a heated bed to improve adhesion and reduce warping. A bed temperature of 50-
60°C is typical.
• Nozzle Temperature: Set the nozzle temperature between 220-250°C, depending on the specific TPU
formulation.
• Speed and Retraction: Print at slower speeds (20-30 mm/s) and adjust retraction settings to minimize
stringing and oozing.
3. Printing Process:
• Load the TPU filament into the printer or fill the SLS machine with TPU powder.
• Begin the printing process, ensuring continuous monitoring for potential issues like filament jamming or
print warping.
4. Post-Processing:
• For FDM prints, remove the object from the print bed and clean up any stringing or excess material.
• For SLS prints, remove the part from the powder bed, brush off excess powder, and perform any
necessary finishing steps like polishing or dyeing.
Challenges:
• Print Quality: Achieving high print quality can be difficult due to TPU’s flexibility, requiring precise
printer settings and calibration.
• Processing Speed: Printing TPU can be slower compared to more rigid materials, necessitating longer
print times.
18.
Final Design
The final design of the project incorporates a substrate consisting of a 1.0mm layer of thermoplastic
polyurethane (TPU), supplemented by an additional 0.3mm layer of FR4-Epoxy material, providing structural
support and thermal insulation. A top this composite substrate, a thin copper layer is applied, strategically
chosen to withstand the soldering process without melting, ensuring the integrity of the antenna's electrical
connections. The asymmetric coplanar strip (ACS) feeding mechanism utilized in the antenna design offers
distinct advantages over the conventional coplanar waveguide (CPW) feed mechanism.
Unlike CPW, ACS eliminates the need for a ground plane, simplifying the antenna's design and reducing
fabrication complexity. Moreover, ACS allows for greater flexibility in antenna layout and optimization,
facilitating compact and versatile designs tailored to specific application requirements. Additionally, ACS-fed
antennas typically exhibit improved impedance matching and broader bandwidth compared to CPW-fed
counterparts, enhancing overall performance and versatility. Furthermore, ACS feeding mechanism mitigates
electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues commonly associated with CPW, ensuring reliable and robust
wireless communication. In summary, the adoption of ACS feeding mechanism in conjunction with the
composite TPU-FR4-Epoxy substrate and copper layer represents a comprehensive approach to antenna design,
optimizing performance, durability, and manufacturability for diverse wireless applications.
SCHEMATICS:
19.
DIMENSIONS:
BENDED SCHEMATICS:
20.
S-PARAMETERS:
NON-BENDED VERSION:
GAIN PLOT:
21.
RADIATION PATTERN:
22.
S-PARAMETERS:
BENDED VERSION:
GAIN PLOT:
23.
RADIATION PATTERN:
24.
REFERENCES
[1]. FCC: ‘First Report and Order, revision of Part 15 of the Commission’s Rules regarding Ultra Wideband
Transmission Systems, FCC02-48, April 2002
[2]. Deepu, V., Raj, R.K., Joseph, M., Suma, M.N., and Mohanan, P.: ‘Compact asymmetric coplanar strip fed
monopole antenna for multiband applications’, IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., 2007, 55, (8), pp. 2351–235
[3]. Yildirim, B.S., Cetiner, B.A., Roqueta, G., and Jofre, L.: ‘Integrated Bluetooth and UWB antenna’, IEEE
Antennas Wirel. Propag. Lett., 2009, 8, pp. 149–152
[4]. Mishra, S.K., Gupta, R.K., Vaidya, A., and Mukherjee, J.: ‘A compact dual-band fork-shaped monopole
antenna for Bluetooth and UWB applications’, IEEE Antennas Wirel. Propag. Lett., 2011, 10, pp. 627–630
[5]. Samadi Taheri, M.M., Hassani, H.R., and Ali Nezhad, S.M.: ‘UWB printed slot antenna with Bluetooth and
dual notch bands’, IEEE Antennas Wirel. Propag. Lett., 2011, 10, pp. 255–258
[6]. Bod, M.H., Hassani, R., and Samadi Taheri, M.M.: ‘Compact UWB printed slot antenna with extra
Bluetooth, GSM, and GPS bands’, IEEE Antennas Wirel. Propag. Lett., 2012, 11, pp. 531–534
[7]. Chang, K. (Ed.) (1989) Handbook of Mmicrowave and Optical Components, John Wiley and Sons, New
York, Vol. 1.
[8]. Chen, H.D. (2002) ‘Compact CPW-feed dual frequency monopole antenna’, IEE Electron. Lett., Vol. 38,
December, pp.1622–1624.
[9]. Chen, H.D. and Chen, H.T. (2004) ‘A CPW feed dual-frequency monopole antenna’, IEEE Trans.
Antennas Propag., Vol. 52, April, pp.978–982
25.
[10]. S. Karthikeyan, Yedduri. Venu Gopal, V. Giri Narendra Kumar, T. Ravi, “DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF
WEARABLE ANTENNA FOR WIRELESS BODY AREA NETWORK”, IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science
and Engineering 590 (2019) 012022.
[11]. Yogesh Kumar Choukiker and Santanu Kumar Behera, “ACS fed koch fractal antenna for wide-band
applications”, Int. J. Signal and Imaging Systems Engineering, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2013.
[12]. Yuan-Fu Liu, Peng Wang and Hao Qin, “Compact ACS-fed UWB monopole antenna with extra Bluetooth
band”, (Research Institute of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and
Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, People’s Republic of China), The Institution of Engineering and
Technology 2014, 26 March 2014, doi: 10.1049/el.2014.1038.
[13]. Mohammed Khalifa , S. Anandhan , Günter Wuzella , Herfried Lammer & Arunjunai Raj Mahendran,
“Thermoplastic polyurethane composites reinforced with renewable and sustainable fillers a review”
[14]. Anirban Sarkar, Sadia Sultana, Alok Paul and Md. Mamunur Rashid, “Study on Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
System and Its Applications”, J. Bangladesh Electron. 18 (1–3); 01–05, 2018.
26.