Clemson University

Chalmers M Butler

Shawn D Rogers

Anthony Q Martin

A method for applying an algorithm to facilitate the design of wideband omnidirectional antennas, and the design of sleeve cage monopole and sleeve helix units includes rapid resolution of a complex relationship among antenna components to yield an optimal system. A genetic algorithm is used with fitness values for design factors expressed in terms to yield optimum combinations. Cage antennas are optimized via a genetic algorithm for operation over a wide band with low VSWR. Genetic algorithms and an integral equation solver are employed to determine the position and lengths of parasitic wires around a cage antenna in order to minimize VSWR over a band. The cage may be replaced by a normal mode quadrifilar helix for height reduction and with re-optimized parasites.

Designs for wide band antennas with parasitic elements and a method to optimize their design using a genetic algorithm and fast integral equation technique

A broadband loaded antenna and matching network with related methods for design optimization are disclosed. The loaded antenna structures may preferably be either monopole or dipole antennas, but the particular methods and techniques presented herein may be applied to additional antenna configurations. The load circuits positioned along an antenna may comprise parallel inductor-resistor configurations or other combinations of passive circuit elements. A matching network for connecting an antenna to a transmission line or other medium preferably includes at least a transmission line transformer and a parallel inductor. Various optimization techniques are presented to optimize the design of such broadband monopole antennas. These techniques include implementation of simple genetic algorithms (GAs) or micro-GAs. Component modeling for selected components may be effected through either lumped element representation or curved wire representation. Measured results are presented to ensure that certain design criteria are met, including low voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and high gain over a desired frequency band.

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Clemson, SC, United States of America

Chalmers M Butler