volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

A conformal wideband antenna is investigated and compared with its planar counterpart. First, a planar U-slot patch with about 43% fractional impedance bandwidth is designed. Then, it is mounted on a conformal cylindrical structure. It is observed that the fractional impedance bandwidth of the resulting conformal antenna increases to 50%, when it is bent along the H-plane. It is also found that the cross polarization discrimination of the antenna is improved. The effects of the arc angle and radius of the cylinder on the impedance bandwidth and radiation characteristics of the antenna are extensively studied. The conformal antenna was fabricated on a thin film of Kapton and tested. The measured and simulated results closely resembled each other.

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Dr. Tanzeela Mitha

Professor Maria Pour