Wideband antennas with polarization diversity for wireless applications

Abstract

The rapid growth of our wireless system infrastructure has created an environment that numerous devices communicate in close proximity, sometimes even in co-located positions. In addition, data rates in communication systems have increased significantly over the last decade, and all projections indicate that this will continue to increase. To address these network demands, many challenges exist. From a hardware perspective, antennas and RF frontends that can support high data-rates and close proximity operation are the primary challenges.This research focuses on developing new methodologies for design, analysis, and synthesis of novel antennas with broad bandwidth and polarization diversity features, while taking advantage of the state-of-the-art in manufacturing technology. In the course of this research, three novel antenna configurations were proposed that can achieve wide bandwidth and at the same time provide dual-linear or dual-circular polarization features. Namely, printed crossed-dipoles with integrated balun mechanisms, aperture couple microstrip patch antennas with dual wide-offset feed mechanisms, and multi-layer and multi-ring heterogenous dielectric resonator antennas with very wide bandwidths have been introduced. The first two antenna configurations are enabled by printed circuit board technology, while the third configuration takes advantage of the most recent advances in additive manufacturing, i.e. multi-material techniques that enable creation of heterogenous dielectric solids. The versatile and compact nature of the proposed antennas, as well as their simple form factors, make them a strong candidate for wideband hand-held communication systems. Moreover, the proposed design methodologies are applicable to a broad range of different types of antennas and microwave devices.