EE 438 – Antenna Engineering

Designation:

Senior/Grad-level technical elective for Electrical Engineering students

Catalog Data:

Radiation from small antennas, linear antenna characteristics, arrays of antennas, impedance concepts and measurements, multifrequency antennas, and aperture antennas. Prerequisite: EE 330.

Prerequisites by topic:

  1. Understanding and the ability to use differential equations, linear algebra, complex variables, and integral vector calculus in the solution of basic electromagnetic radiation problems.
  2. Understanding of basic engineering electromagnetics concepts.
  3. Proficiency in the use of Matlab, Mathcad, or Mathematica.

Course Objectives:

This course provides the knowledge and skills required for the analysis and design of basic antenna systems. Through lecture, laboratory, and out-of-class assignments, students are provided learning experiences that enable them to:

  1. Analyze and design basic antenna elements such as dipoles, loops, Yagi-UDA, and Log-periodics with application to communication systems.
  2. Analyze and design arrays of antenna elements with applications to communication systems.
  3. Become proficient with industry standard software (e.g., GNEC) for the analysis and design of antennas.
  4. Develop technical writing skills important for effective communication.
  5. Acquire teamwork skills for working effectively in groups.

Topics:

  1. Overview of Different Antenna Types (Ch. 1 – 1 class)
  2. Antenna Fundamentals and Definitions (Ch. 2 – 2 weeks)
  3. Radiation Integrals and Auxiliary Potential Functions (Ch. 3 – 2 weeks)
  4. Linear Wire Antennas: Infinitesimal Dipole, Small Dipole, Finite Length Dipole (Ch. 4 – 2 weeks)
  5. Loop Antennas (Ch. 5 – 1 week)
  6. Arrays: Uniformly and Nonuniformly Excited Equally Spaced Linear Arrays (Ch. 6 – 3 weeks)
  7. Input Impedance of Dipoles, Mutual Impedance of Arrays, Driving Point Impedance of Arrays (Sec. 2.13, Secs. 8.5-8.7 – 2 weeks)
  8. Yagi-UDA Antennas (Sec. 10.3.3 – 1 week)
  9. Broadband Antennas (Ch. 11 – 2 weeks)
  10. Microstrip Antennas (Ch. 14 – optional)

Class Schedule:

Three 50-minute lectures per week.

Computer Usage:

  1. GNEC is used to facilitate analysis and design of wire antennas.
  2. Several homework assignments and one final design project require the use of mathematical analysis and graphics software packages such as Matlab, Mathcad, or Mathematica.
  3. One final design project and two antenna measurement labs involving formal technical reports require the use of word processing software.

Laboratory projects and/or assignements:

Two laboratory projects are required that involve making measurements of various antenna radiation patterns and comparing them with the theoretical patterns derived during formal classroom lectures. Technical writing skills, maintaining a laboratory notebook, working in teams, and development of good antenna measurement practices are emphasized during the laboratory meetings.

Contribution to meeting the professional component:

Relationship to program outcomes:

  1. Graduates will understand how to analyze and design simple antenna elements and arrays of antenna elements. [Ref: Outcome O.2.1.]
  2. Graduates will have attained computer proficiency. [Ref: Outcome O.1.3.]
  3. Graduates will have teamwork skills. [Ref: Outcome O.5.1.]
  4. Graduates will possess oral and written communication skills. [Ref: Outcome O.5.2.]