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INFRARED ANTENNA-COUPLED PHASED-ARRAY
Title
INFRARED ANTENNA-COUPLED PHASED-ARRAY.
Creator
Middlebrook, Christopher, Boreman, Glenn, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Phased-array antennas are commonplace in the radiofrequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Exploitation of phasing effects between multiple antennas facilitates a wide range of applications, including synthetic-aperture radar, beam forming, and beam scanning. For the first time, the phased addition of multiple dipole antennas is demonstrated in the infrared, at a wavelength of 10.6 micrometers. Coplanar strip lines are used to interconnect the antennas, preserving the phase of the...
Show morePhased-array antennas are commonplace in the radiofrequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Exploitation of phasing effects between multiple antennas facilitates a wide range of applications, including synthetic-aperture radar, beam forming, and beam scanning. For the first time, the phased addition of multiple dipole antennas is demonstrated in the infrared, at a wavelength of 10.6 micrometers. Coplanar strip lines are used to interconnect the antennas, preserving the phase of the individual contributions. Several different proof-of-concept experiments are performed, using planar antennas fabricated with direct-write electron-beam lithography. Infrared-frequency currents from two dipole antennas are summed together at a common feedpoint and dissipated in a bolometric load. Angular pattern measurements show that the direction of maximum gain depends on the phase difference between the antennas. As more antennas are added together in phase, beam narrowing is observed in the angular response. Another experiment uses a two-dipole array to directly measure the magnitude of the mutual coherence function, at the plane of the antennas, of a spatially incoherent narrowband source. Measurements are also made of the broadside antenna response comparing air-side and substrate-side situations for a dipole antenna fabricated on a hemispherical immersion lens. In all cases, the measured behavior is confirmed by electromagnetic analysis.
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Date Issued
2007
Identifier
CFE0001709, ucf:47327
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001709
Microstrip Patch Electrically Steerable Parasitic Array Radiators
Title
Microstrip Patch Electrically Steerable Parasitic Array Radiators.
Creator
Luther, Justin, Gong, Xun, Wahid, Parveen, Jones, W, Wu, Xinzhang, Flitsiyan, Elena, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
This dissertation explores the expansion of the Electrically Steerable Parasitic Array Radiator (ESPAR) technology to arrays using microstrip patch elements. Scanning arrays of two and three closely-coupled rectangular patch elements are presented, which incorporate no phase shifters. These arrays achieve directive radiation patterns and scanning of up to 26(&)deg; with maintained impedance match. The scanning is effected by tunable reactive loads which are used to control the mutual coupling...
Show moreThis dissertation explores the expansion of the Electrically Steerable Parasitic Array Radiator (ESPAR) technology to arrays using microstrip patch elements. Scanning arrays of two and three closely-coupled rectangular patch elements are presented, which incorporate no phase shifters. These arrays achieve directive radiation patterns and scanning of up to 26(&)deg; with maintained impedance match. The scanning is effected by tunable reactive loads which are used to control the mutual coupling between the elements, as well as additional loads which compensate to maintain the appropriate resonant frequency. The design incorporates theoretical analysis of the system of coupled antennas with full-wave simulation. A prototype of the three-element array at 1 GHz is fabricated and measured to exhibit a maximum gain of 7.4 dBi with an efficiency of 79.1%. Further, the microstrip ESPAR is thoroughly compared to uniformly-illuminated arrays of similar size. To satisfy the need for higher directivity antennas with inexpensive electronic scanning, the microstrip ESPAR is then integrated as a subarray. The three-element subcell fabrication is simplified to a single layer with an inverted-Y groove in the ground plane, allowing for DC biasing without the need for the radial biasing stubs or tuning stubs found in the two-layer design. The 1 GHz ESPAR array employs a corporate feed network consisting of a Wilkinson power divider with switchable delay line phase shifts, ring hybrid couplers, and achieves a gain of 12.1 dBi at boresight with (&)#177;20(&)deg; scanning and low side lobes. This array successfully illustrates the cost savings associated with ESPAR subarray scanning and the associated reduction in required number of phase shifters in the RF front end.
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Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0005107, ucf:50754
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005107
INFRARED PHASED-ARRAY ANTENNA-COUPLED TUNNEL DIODES
Title
INFRARED PHASED-ARRAY ANTENNA-COUPLED TUNNEL DIODES.
Creator
Slovick, Brian, Boreman, Glenn, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Infrared (IR) dipole antenna-coupled metal-oxide-metal (MOM) tunnel diodes provide a unique detection mechanism that allows for determination of the polarization and wavelength of an optical field. By integrating the MOM diode into a phased-array antenna, the angle of arrival and degree of coherence of received IR radiation can be determined. The angular response characteristics of IR dipole antennas are determined by boundary conditions imposed by the surrounding dielectric or conductive...
Show moreInfrared (IR) dipole antenna-coupled metal-oxide-metal (MOM) tunnel diodes provide a unique detection mechanism that allows for determination of the polarization and wavelength of an optical field. By integrating the MOM diode into a phased-array antenna, the angle of arrival and degree of coherence of received IR radiation can be determined. The angular response characteristics of IR dipole antennas are determined by boundary conditions imposed by the surrounding dielectric or conductive environment on the radiated fields. To explore the influence of the substrate configuration, single dipole antennas are fabricated on both planar and hemispherical lens substrates. Measurements demonstrate that the angular response can be tailored by the thickness of the electrical isolation stand-off layer on which the detector is fabricated and/or the inclusion of a ground plane. Directional detection of IR radiation is achieved with a pair of dipole antennas coupled to a MOM diode through a coplanar strip transmission line. The direction of maximum angular response is altered by varying the position of the diode along the transmission line connecting the antenna elements. By fabricating the devices on a quarter wave layer above a ground plane, narrow beam widths of 35° full width at half maximum and reception angles of ± 50° are achievable with minimal side-lobe contributions. Phased-array antennas can also be used to assess the degree of coherence of a partially coherent field. For a two-element array, the degree of coherence is a measure of the correlation of electric fields received by the antennas as a function of the element separation.
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Date Issued
2011
Identifier
CFE0003589, ucf:48926
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003589
Customizable Antenna Array Using Reconfigurable Antenna Elements
Title
Customizable Antenna Array Using Reconfigurable Antenna Elements.
Creator
Shirazi, Mahmoud, Gong, Xun, Wahid, Parveen, Jones, W Linwood, Abdolvand, Reza, Kuebler, Stephen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
A shared-aperture reconfigurable slot-ring antenna array switching between different frequency bands and polarizations is presented for phased array applications. PIN diode switches are incorporated into the slots of the antenna to change the state of the reconfigurable slot-ring antenna array. Each frequency band has its own feeding lines which allows for the use of high-performance narrow-band transmit/receive (T/R) modules instead of ultra wideband (UWB) T/R modules. Furthermore, the...
Show moreA shared-aperture reconfigurable slot-ring antenna array switching between different frequency bands and polarizations is presented for phased array applications. PIN diode switches are incorporated into the slots of the antenna to change the state of the reconfigurable slot-ring antenna array. Each frequency band has its own feeding lines which allows for the use of high-performance narrow-band transmit/receive (T/R) modules instead of ultra wideband (UWB) T/R modules. Furthermore, the spacing between the elements in each frequency band is less than half free-space wavelength (?0) over the frequency band of operation which enables grating-lobe-free beam scanning. This is the first shared-aperture reconfigurable dual-polarized antenna with separate feeding for each band which is scalable to a larger array with element spacing of less than 0.5?0 in all frequency bands of operation.First, a switchable-band reconfigurable antenna array switching between L and C bands is presented. This antenna operates at 1.76/5.71 GHz with a fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 8.6%/11.5%, realized gain of 0.1/4.2 dBi and radiation efficiency of 66.6%/80.7% in the L-/C- band operating states, respectively. Second, a wideband version of the reconfigurable antenna element using fractal geometries is presented. This dual-polarized antenna element is switching between S and C bands with wide bandwidth in each operating state. In the S-/C-band operating state, this antenna shows 69.1%/58.3% FBW with a maximum realized gain of 2.4/3.1 dBi. Third, the wideband antenna element is extended to an antenna array. The reconfigurable dual-polarized antenna array with vertical coaxial feeding switches between S- and C-band states with full-band coverage. A 2(&)#215;2 S-band antenna array can be reconfigured to a 4(&)#215;4 C-band antenna array by activating/deactivating PIN diode switches. This antenna array shows 64.3%/66.7% FBW with 8.4/14.3 dBi maximum realized gain in the S-/C-band operating states, respectively. Finally, a reconfigurable antenna element covering three adjacent frequency bands is presented. The FBW of this tri-band antenna element is 75%/63%/26% in the S/C/X band state.
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Date Issued
2018
Identifier
CFE0007373, ucf:52092
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007373
Frequency-Reconfigurable Microstrip Patch and Cavity-Backed Slot ESPARs
Title
Frequency-Reconfigurable Microstrip Patch and Cavity-Backed Slot ESPARs.
Creator
Ouyang, Wei, Gong, Xun, Vosoughi, Azadeh, Wahid, Parveen, Abdolvand, Reza, Kuebler, Stephen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Wireless communication systems have rapidly evolved over the past decade which has led to an explosion of mobile data traffic. Since more and more wireless devices and sensors are being connected, the transition from the current 4G/LTE mobile network to 5G is expected to happen within the next decade. In order to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), system capacity, and link budget, beam steerable antenna arrays are desirable due to their advantage in spatial selectivity and high directivity....
Show moreWireless communication systems have rapidly evolved over the past decade which has led to an explosion of mobile data traffic. Since more and more wireless devices and sensors are being connected, the transition from the current 4G/LTE mobile network to 5G is expected to happen within the next decade. In order to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), system capacity, and link budget, beam steerable antenna arrays are desirable due to their advantage in spatial selectivity and high directivity. Electronically steerable parasitic array radiator (ESPAR) that can achieve low-cost continuously beamsteering using varactor diodes have attracted a lot of attention. This dissertation explores bandwidth enhancement of the ESPAR using frequency-reconfigurable microstrip patch and cavity-backed slot (CBS) antennas. In chapter 2, an ESPAR of three closely-coupled rectangular patch elements that do not use phase shifters is presented; the beamsteering is realized by tunable reactive loads which are used to control the mutual coupling between the elements. Additional loading varactors are strategically placed on the radiating edge of all the antenna elements to achieve a 15% continuous frequency tuning range while simultaneously preserving the beamsteering capability at each operating frequency. Therefore, this frequency-reconfigurable ESPAR is able to provide spectrum diversity in addition to the spatial diversity inherent in a frequency-fixed ESPAR. A prototype of the patch ESPAR is fabricated and demonstrated to operate from 0.87 to 1.02 GHz with an instantaneous fractional bandwidth (FBW) of ~1%. At each operating frequency, this ESPAR is able to scan from -20 to +20 degrees in the H plane. However, the beamsteering of the patch ESPAR is limited in the H-plane and its instantaneous S11 fractional bandwidth (FBW) is very narrow. This dissertation also explores how to achieve 2-D beamsteering with enhanced FBW using CBS antennas. A 20-element cavity-backed slot antenna array is designed and fabricated based on a CBS ESPAR cross subarray in chapter 5. This ESPAR array is able to steer the main beam from +45 degrees to -45 degrees in the E plane and from +40 degrees to -40 degrees in the H plane, respectively, without grating lobes in either plane. The impedance matching is maintained below -10 dB from 6.0 to 6.4 GHz (6.4% fractional bandwidth) at all scan angles. In addition, the CBS ESPAR exhibits minimum beam squint at all scan angles within the impedance matching bandwidth. This array successfully demonstrates the cost savings and associated reduction in the required number of phase shifters in the RF front end by employing ESPAR technology.
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Date Issued
2019
Identifier
CFE0007699, ucf:52426
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007699
LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICS FOR COMMUNICATIONS, SIGNAL PROCESSING AND 3-D MICROSCOPIC IMAGING
Title
LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICS FOR COMMUNICATIONS, SIGNAL PROCESSING AND 3-D MICROSCOPIC IMAGING.
Creator
Khan, Sajjad, Riza, Nabeel, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
This dissertation proposes, studies and experimentally demonstrates novel liquid crystal (LC) optics to solve challenging problems in RF and photonic signal processing, freespace and fiber optic communications and microscopic imaging. These include free-space optical scanners for military and optical wireless applications, variable fiber-optic attenuators for optical communications, photonic control techniques for phased array antennas and radar, and 3-D microscopic imaging. At the heart of...
Show moreThis dissertation proposes, studies and experimentally demonstrates novel liquid crystal (LC) optics to solve challenging problems in RF and photonic signal processing, freespace and fiber optic communications and microscopic imaging. These include free-space optical scanners for military and optical wireless applications, variable fiber-optic attenuators for optical communications, photonic control techniques for phased array antennas and radar, and 3-D microscopic imaging. At the heart of the applications demonstrated in this thesis are LC devices that are non-pixelated and can be controlled either electrically or optically. Instead of the typical pixel-by-pixel control as is custom in LC devices, the phase profile across the aperture of these novel LC devices is varied through the use of high impedance layers. Due to the presence of the high impedance layer, there forms a voltage gradient across the aperture of such a device which results in a phase gradient across the LC layer which in turn is accumulated by the optical beam traversing through this LC device. The geometry of the electrical contacts that are used to apply the external voltage will define the nature of the phase gradient present across the optical beam. In order to steer a laser beam in one angular dimension, straight line electrical contacts are used to form a one dimensional phase gradient while an annular electrical contact results in a circularly symmetric phase profile across the optical beam making it suitable for focusing the optical beam. The geometry of the electrical contacts alone is not sufficient to form the linear and the quadratic phase profiles that are required to either deflect or focus an optical beam. Clever use of the phase response of a typical nematic liquid crystal (NLC) is made such that the linear response region is used for the angular beam deflection while the high voltage quadratic response region is used for focusing the beam. Employing an NLC deflector, a device that uses the linear angular deflection, laser beam steering is demonstrated in two orthogonal dimensions whereas an NLC lens is used to address the third dimension to complete a three dimensional (3-D) scanner. Such an NLC deflector was then used in a variable optical attenuator (VOA), whereby a laser beam coupled between two identical single mode fibers (SMF) was mis-aligned away from the output fiber causing the intensity of the output coupled light to decrease as a function of the angular deflection. Since the angular deflection is electrically controlled, hence the VOA operation is fairly simple and repeatable. An extension of this VOA for wavelength tunable operation is also shown in this dissertation. A LC spatial light modulator (SLM) that uses a photo-sensitive high impedance electrode whose impedance can be varied by controlling the light intensity incident on it, is used in a control system for a phased array antenna. Phase is controlled on the Write side of the SLM by controlling the intensity of the Write laser beam which then is accessed by the Read beam from the opposite side of this reflective SLM. Thus the phase of the Read beam is varied by controlling the intensity of the Write beam. A variable fiber-optic delay line is demonstrated in the thesis which uses wavelength sensitive and wavelength insensitive optics to get both analog as well as digital delays. It uses a chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG), and a 1xN optical switch to achieve multiple time delays. The switch can be implemented using the 3-D optical scanner mentioned earlier. A technique is presented for ultra-low loss laser communication that uses a combination of strong and weak thin lens optics. As opposed to conventional laser communication systems, the Gaussian laser beam is prevented from diverging at the receiving station by using a weak thin lens that places the transmitted beam waist mid-way between a symmetrical transmitter-receiver link design thus saving prime optical power. LC device technology forms an excellent basis to realize such a large aperture weak lens. Using a 1-D array of LC deflectors, a broadband optical add-drop filter (OADF) is proposed for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) applications. By binary control of the drive signal to the individual LC deflectors in the array, any optical channel can be selectively dropped and added. For demonstration purposes, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) digital micromirrors have been used to implement the OADF. Several key systems issues such as insertion loss, polarization dependent loss, wavelength resolution and response time are analyzed in detail for comparison with the LC deflector approach. A no-moving-parts axial scanning confocal microscope (ASCM) system is designed and demonstrated using a combination of a large diameter LC lens and a classical microscope objective lens. By electrically controlling the 5 mm diameter LC lens, the 633 nm wavelength focal spot is moved continuously over a 48 ƒÝm range with measured 3-dB axial resolution of 3.1 ƒÝm using a 0.65 numerical aperture (NA) micro-objective lens. The ASCM is successfully used to image an Indium Phosphide twin square optical waveguide sample with a 10.2 ƒÝm waveguide pitch and 2.3 ƒÝm height and width. Using fine analog electrical control of the LC lens, a super-fine sub-wavelength axial resolution of 270 nm is demonstrated. The proposed ASCM can be useful in various precision three dimensional imaging and profiling applications.
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Date Issued
2005
Identifier
CFE0000750, ucf:46596
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000750