Single-feed and Multiple-feed EBG Antennas based on Triangular and Cylindrical Lattice of Dielectric Rods

Claudio Biancotto   -   Dr Paul Record


Triangular lattice Electromagnetic BandGap Antenna, time-domain video.

Triangular lattice Electromagnetic BandGap Antenna, frequency-domain video.



These antennas are realized arranging ceramic rods in a simple triangular [1] or cylindrical lattice [2,3], realizing an approximation of an ideal two-dimensional structure made with infinite long rods. These two-dimensional structures may present a BandGap, a range of frequencies in which electromagnetic propagation is not allowed.




Triangular lattice of dielectric rods [1].

Photonic band structure [1].



If we excite a TM mode in a cavity created by removing a dielectric rod from the lattice, energy at frequencies outside the band-gap will be free to propagate through the structure, while energy at frequencies within the bandgap will be trapped in the cavity. Trapped energy can be directed toward a specific direction by creating an angular defect in the structure.




Cylindrical EBG structure with defect window [2,3].

Triangular EBG structure with defect window [1].



A three-dimensional antenna is realized placing a feeding quarter-wavelength probe in the center of the EBG structure. For low elevation angles, the excited fields have a distribution very similar to the 2D configuration: the 3D structure is a good approximation of the 2D structure and, at frequency within the bandgap, a high attenuation is expected in the EBG structure direction. For increasing elevation angles, the 3D EBG structure approximation of the 2D structure progressively fails; however, given the intrinsic configuration of the excited fields (the electric field magnitude is decreasing as the elevation angle increases), low radiated fields are expected anyway. Gain is therefore expected in the same angular direction of the defect window whilst in the opposite direction, where the structure is intact, the radiation is attenuated.




Cylindrical EBG Antenna [2,3].

Triangular EBG Antenna [1].



Few prototypes have been built and tested, achieving 31% fractional bandwidth and average gain and FTBR of 11.5dBi and 27dB respectively.




Triangular EBG Antenna: a) S11; b) gain and Front-To-Back-Ratio (FTBR) [1].

Triangular EBG Antenna measured radiation patterns [1].


References


[1] C. Biancotto and P. Record, ``Triangular Lattice Dielectric EBG Antenna,'' IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 9, 95-98, 2010. &rArr

[2] C. Biancotto and P. Record, ``Design of a beam forming dielectric cylindrical EBG antenna,'' Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 18, 327-346, 2009. &rArr

[3] C. Biancotto and P. Record, ``Beam Forming Dielectric Cylindrical EBG Antenna,'' Antennas and Propagation Conference, 2009, LAPC 2009. Loughborough, pp. 425-428. &rArr

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