This paper deals with a near-field to far-field transformation able to predict the radiation of UHF antennas located over a lossy ground. From in-situ near-field measurements, an equivalent set of dipole sources is obtained as a model of the characterized antenna. The paper details the main steps of the transformation and describes the specific experimental set-up designed for the application. Simple directional antennas (monopoles array) as well as more complex omnidirectional antennas (like a biconical antenna as a scaled-down model of a HF antenna) have been tested in realistic environments. This approach is very efficient for separating the contributions of the radiated waves: the sky wave and the surface wave.

With the aim of performing perimeter surveillance of high-speed railway networks, this paper presents the design of a passive multistatic radar system based on the use of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) downlink signals as the illumination of opportunity. Taking into account the specifications and standard of the LTE system, the ambiguity function of measured downlink signals is analyzed in terms of range and Doppler resolution, ambiguities, and sidelobe level. The deployment of the proposed passive radar is flexible and scalable, and it is based on multichannel software defined radio receivers that obtain the reference and surveillance signals by means of digital beamforming. The signal processing and data fusion are based, respectively, on the delay-Doppler cross-correlation with the reconstructed reference signals and a two-stage tracking at sensor and central level. Finally, the performance of the proposed system is estimated in terms of its maximum detection range and simulation results of the detection of moving targets are presented, demonstrating its technical feasibility for the short-range detection of pedestrians, vehicles, and small drones.

The microwave energy-harvesting (MEH) and microwave power transfer (MPT) technologies have become the most emerging areas of research nowadays. The microwave rectifier circuit is the bottleneck of both the MEH and MPT systems. The efficiency of the system depends on the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the rectifier. Due to the recent advancement of the fifth-generation communication system, it is desirable to propose an efficient rectifier operating at sub-6 GHz 5G bands. A dual-band rectifier circuit is designed and demonstrated for MEH/MPT purposes, specifically at sub-6 GHz 5G frequency bands. The dual-band matching is achieved by using a stepped impedance transmission line. The rectifier covers N78 (3.3–3.6 GHz) and N79 (4.8–5.0 GHz) bands. Peak PCE of 67.6% @ 3.5 GHz and 56.8% @ 4.9 GHz are achieved. For validation purpose, the rectifier is fabricated and characterized and measured results show good agreement with simulated results.

Conditioning of a metal surface in a high-voltage system is the progressive development of resistance to vacuum arcing over the operational life of the system. This is relevant for accelerator cavities, where high level of performance is only achievable after a long conditioning period. Beyond the accelerator research field, this is an important topic for any technology where breakdowns can cause device failure, either by directly disrupting device operation or by causing cumulative hardware damage.

We are developing a direct method to measure the surface resistivity of a metal surface that is being conditioned with a HV DC system by inducing a high frequency (GHz) radio-frequency current in the parallel-plate electrode system. If the system can function as a resonant cavity, the surface resistivity data would be encoded in its quality factor (Q-factor). The changes in the resistivity measured in cryogenic conditions would indicate a formation of dislocations under the surface, something that has been speculated as an important process behind the conditioning.

In this paper, we present two modified designs of the electrode system, which will act as a resonant cavity, the results of 3D EM simulations and experimental results regarding the characterization of this resonant system.

This article explores the possibilities of incorporating a defected ground structure (DGS) for widening the 3 dB axial ratio beamwidth (ARBW) of a simple low-profile planar circularly polarized (CP) antenna. Two pairs of DGSs are etched symmetrically along the diagonals of the ground plane to overcome the limited 3 dB ARBW performance of a crossed-slotted circular-shaped planar CP antenna. Here, one pair of DGSs is orthogonal to another pair of DGSs. The distance between the pairs of DGSs plays a key role in enhancing the 3 dB ARBW by 40.62%. A gap of 0.18λ0 is considered between the DGSs to maintain the symmetrical electric field distribution in the substrate. It also helps to reduce orthogonal current components and provides uniformly distributed patch surface currents. These phenomena collectively help the proposed CP antenna to exhibit right-handed circular polarization radiation with the 3 dB ARBW of 186° and 188° in the E-plane and H-plane, respectively. The measured results yield impedance bandwidth (S11 ≤ −10 dB) of 2.6% (2.283–2.342 GHz), CP bandwidth of 0.9% (2.294–2.315 GHz), gain higher than 4.8 dBic, and total antenna efficiency more than 64% across the entire CP band.

This paper reports a new compact dual-band axially corrugated profiled horn feed (DBCPH) for prime-focus reflector antenna at C-band (uplink and downlink frequency bands with bandwidth ratio of 1.6). DBPCH consists of one sinusoid profiled section and two internal axial corrugations (internal short-circuited ring slots), for obtaining a multimode horn feed. Such a blended structure is optimized over the specified frequency bands (3.68–3.70 and 5.865–5.915 GHz) to achieve various performance objectives (such as compactness, return loss, polarization purity, etc.). Measured and predicted results show that DBCPH provides better return loss >18.6 dB, low cross-polarization (better than −32 dB), and adequate edge taper at ±48° (8.5–11.7 dB) along with compact size (1.3λ aperture diameter and 0.88λ length at lower frequency). The horn would be used as a feed element for front-fed prime-focus reflector for pencil beam spacecraft antenna application.

In this paper, the design and analysis of a complementary Sierpinski Knopp fractal antenna are presented. It is realized by applying the Sierpinski Knopp space-filling curve on the basic square monopole antenna. The performance metrics of the antenna such as S11 (reflection coefficient), voltage standing wave ratio, radiation pattern, gain and current distribution at resonant frequencies are analyzed by using ANSYS Electronic Desktop software package. FR4 dielectric material is used as a substrate in which the radiating element of an antenna is printed. Vector network analyzer and anechoic chamber are used for measuring the fabricated antenna in order to validate the simulated data. The proposed antenna resonates at three frequencies that are 2.08, 4.93, and 6.46 GHz with a reflection coefficient of −20.5, −23.1, and −24.3 dB, respectively. The suggested antenna covers the frequency bands for mobile satellite service, Public Protection and Disaster Relief communication devoted to the emergency management system and INSAT C band applications.

This paper clarifies what we benefit from single-input–multiple-output (SIMO) or multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) radar. We have developed an X-band sparse array imaging radar system capable of operating at both SIMO and MIMO modes. The hybrid radar modes are realized without any modification in hardware, but simply by switching the scheme of waveform generation and post-processing. A comparison has been made between the SIMO mode adopting a chirp pulse waveform and the MIMO mode based on the code-division multiple access method using the Gold-coded pulse waveform. Mutually complementary properties between the SIMO and MIMO modes in terms of the cost of computation, the ease of array calibration, and the detectability of targets are clarified through simulations and an experiment.

This paper proposes an efficient and fast analysis of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) components using a new approach of the iterative method called WCIP, i.e. “Wave Concept Iterative Process”. This method is based on the iterative resolution of waves between two domains. The first is the spectral domain. We use the Floquet–Bloch decomposition to describe all modes in the spectral domain. The second describes the configuration of the circuit in the spatial domain. It allows taking the exact structure according to the appropriate boundary conditions. This method permits to reduce numerical complexity. The convergence of this approach is always guaranteed. The theoretical suggested study is validated by the simulation of two different examples of SIW circuits. The obtained results are in good agreement with those of measurement and with software HFSS simulations, which prove the advantage of this method.

In order to merge the advantages of the traditional compressed sensing (CS) methodology and the data-driven deep network scheme, this paper proposes a physical model-driven deep network, termed CS-Net, for solving target image reconstruction problems in through-the-wall radar imaging. The proposed method consists of two consequent steps. First, a learned convolutional neural network prior is introduced to replace the regularization term in the traditional iterative CS-based method to capture the redundancy of the radar echo signal. Moreover, the physical model of the radar signal is used in the data consistency layer to encourage consistency with the measurements. Second, the iterative CS optimization is unrolled to yield a deep learning network, where the weight, regularization parameter, and the other parameters are learnable. A quantity of training data enables the network to extract high-dimensional characteristics of the radar echo signal to reconstruct the spatial target image. Simulation results demonstrated that the proposed method can achieve accurate target image reconstruction and was superior to the traditional CS method, in terms of mean squared error and the target texture details.

We propose in this paper a 4-channel time-domain test bench for the characterization and linearity enhancement of microwave power amplifiers (PAs). The proposed time-domain measurement system utilizes four track and hold amplifiers (THAs) for direct subsampling of radiofrequency (RF) signals. The use of wideband THAs to replace samplers or mixers enables reducing analog IF circuit complexity. It permits direct digitization of RF signals like CW, two-tone and pulsed modulated signals, bringing more flexibility in the receiver's performance by enhancing the dynamic range and bandwidth. This test bench is capable of completely extracting the phase, amplitude, and transfer characteristics of non-linear devices excited with CW or modulated RF signals. In this work, two-tone transfer characteristics of a 50 W GaN HEMT Nitronex PA were extracted and processed for applying digital pre-distortion linearization to enhance linearity performance. Time-domain envelope and carrier waveforms (voltage and current) along with third-order inter-modulation distortion (IMD) products with and without digital pre-distortion scheme are also presented.

Many scientists and engineers contributed – more or less successfully – to the development of radio and wireless. This historical survey describes briefly the projects realized more than a century ago by some of them, at the early beginnings of wireless. It is hoped, in this manner, to draw attention to the unknown or forgotten researchers who built up the considerable body of knowledge that led to Marconi's remarkable achievements.

In this paper, a novel single-cavity triangular substrate-integrated waveguide (TSIW) dual-band filter loading a complementary triangular split ring resonator (CTSRR) is proposed, which has three transmission zeros (TZs) in the stopband in total. The dual-band response is achieved by the CTSRR and the degenerate modes of the TSIW cavity. In order to control the TZs, we propose two adjustment techniques, shift feeding technique and adding via perturbation. In addition, the CTSRR etched on the surface can produce a new TZ in the upper first-passband. Finally, a dual-band filter with three TZs is simulated, fabricated, and measured. There is a good agreement between the simulated results and measured ones.

In this article, an innovative design of a broadband circularly polarized compact planar antenna for RFID (radio frequency identification) receivers is presented. The suggested structure used the concept of slots loaded parasitic element printed underneath a coplanar waveguide-fed radiator to achieve the circularly polarized (CP) radiation and size reduction. A parasitic element loaded with F-slot and L-slot, and a window-type slotted ground plane was used to achieve resonance at 2.45 GHz with right-handed circularly polarized radiation for RFID handheld reader application. Experimental results confirmed that the designed antenna of size 16.5 × 14.8 × 1.6 mm3 attained a −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 15.8% (from 2.330 to 2.716 GHz) and 3 dB AR bandwidth of 3.43% (from 2.410 to 2.494 GHz). An axial ratio of 0.43 dB was achieved in the boresight of the antenna at the 2.45 GHz RFID band. The concept of electric field distribution on the antenna was used to elaborate the excitation of CP radiation in the antenna.

This paper presents a compact multilayer substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) bandpass filter with wide stopband. The square SIW cavity resonators in multilayer substrates are horizontally and vertically coupled with magnetic coupling. By properly designing the coupling structure, the couplings between the higher-order resonant modes can be suppressed. Compared with the conventional single-layer SIW filters, the proposed multilayer SIW filter also exhibits a compact size. To verify the design concept, a double-layered SIW filter is fabricated and measured. The measured results agree well with the simulations. The measured results show that the upper stopband of the filter is extended to 2.73 times of the center frequency 8.02 GHz.

A selection of hybrid frequency- and time-domain approaches is evaluated with respect to their suitability for predicting the multi-tone behavior of a reference Ku-band helix traveling-wave tube. For this, a frequency-domain code is extended by a selection of frequency-dependent and frequency-independent envelope models and compared to a number of simulated and measured responses to two-tone signal excitation with varying frequency spacing. The selected envelope methods are investigated both in the hybrid approach and based on measured TWT characteristics. Output levels and classical multi-tone metrics, such as intermodulation products and phase transfer factors, are considered. By reducing a modulation scenario to a number of significant sequences, a comparison to full physics-based frequency-domain simulation is presented to show the potential of the proposed approach.

In this study, we investigate a concept that can be used to improve the magnetic field homogeneity in a microwave cavity applied in a novel, high-performance atomic frequency standard. We show that by modifying the boundary conditions in the case of a loop-gap geometry, a good improvement of the field homogeneity can be obtained. Such a design demonstrates high potential to improve the frequency stability; it is compact and hence suitable for a future generation of compact, high-precision frequency standards based on vapor cells and a pulsed optical pumping (POP) regime (POP atomic clocks).

The 5th generation new radio (5G NR) standards create both enormous challenges and potential to address the spatio-spectral-temporal agility of wireless transmission. In the framework of a research unit at TU Ilmenau, various concepts were studied, including both approaches toward integrated circuits and distributed receiver front-ends (FEs). We report here on the latter approach, aiming at the proof-of-principle of the constituting FEs suitable for later modular extension. A millimeter-wave agile multi-beam FE with an integrated 4 by 1 antenna array for 5G wireless communications was designed, manufactured, and verified by measurements. The polarization is continuously electronically adjustable and the directions of signal reception are steerable by setting digital phase shifters. On purpose, these functions were realized by analog circuits, and digital signal processing was not applied. The agile polarization is created inside the analog, real-time capable FE in a novel manner and any external circuitry is omitted. The microstrip patch antenna array integrated into this module necessitated elaborate measurements within the scope of FE characterization, as the analog circuit and antenna form a single entity and cannot be assessed separately. Link measurements with broadband signals were successfully performed and analyzed in detail to determine the error vector magnitude contributions of the FE.

Electromagnetic characteristics of the E-plane T-junction for two rectangular waveguides using resonant coupling between the waveguide sections were studied by mathematical modeling. The problem of coupling between infinite and semi-infinite rectangular waveguides through a resonant slot in the end-wall of the semi-infinite waveguide in the presence of resonant monopole is solved in a strict electrodynamic formulation. The monopole with variable surface impedance is placed parallel to the narrow walls at an arbitrary position inside the infinite waveguide. The problem is solved analytically by the generalized method of induced electro-magneto-motive forces. Impedance vibrator inclusions with variable electro-physical parameters have been analyzed as control elements for waveguide junctions. To this purpose energy characteristics of the junction in the single-mode regime of the both waveguides, and also in multi-mode regime of the semi-infinite waveguide is investigated. The results may be useful for development of variety antennas and waveguide devices, which involves waveguide junctions.

This paper presents the design and development of broadband modified Koch curve microstrip patch antenna with multiband characteristics for spectrum sensing in cognitive radio applications. The proposed spectrum sensing antenna is designed specifically for its efficient operation in the spectrum (1.683–3.05, 4.246–9.714, and 11.25–18 GHz) specified for L, S, C, X, Ku with broadband characteristics and omnidirectional radiation pattern. The validity of the proposed shape is proved by having a comparison with other fractal shapes available in the literature.