Antenna Calculator
The Dipole
A dipole antenna is one of the simplest and most widely used types of antennas. It consists of two conductive elements, typically made of metal, that are equal in length and are arranged in a straight line. These elements are fed by an alternating current (AC) at the center, which creates an oscillating electromagnetic field. The basic form of a dipole antenna is often represented as two straight rods, with the feed point in the center.
Resonance: The total length of the dipole antenna is usually half the wavelength (λ/2λ/2) of the frequency it is designed to receive or transmit. This resonance ensures efficient radiation of electromagnetic waves.
Radiation Pattern: The dipole has an omnidirectional radiation pattern in the plane perpendicular to its axis. This means it radiates energy equally in all directions around it, except along its axis (where radiation is minimal).
Impedance: The feed point impedance of a standard dipole antenna is approximately 73 ohms in free space, which makes it well-suited for many practical applications without requiring significant impedance matching.
Dipoles are commonly used in applications like radio, television transmission, and in communication systems because of their simplicity, effectiveness, and ease of construction.
Dipole Calculator
\[ \lambda = \frac{c}{f} \]
Wavelength:
ULA
A Uniform Linear Array (ULA) antenna consists of multiple identical antenna elements arranged in a straight line, with equal spacing between them. The key characteristic of a ULA is that the elements are typically fed with the same amplitude but with different phases to control the direction of the resulting radiation pattern. By adjusting the phase shifts, a ULA can steer the main beam of the antenna without physically moving the array, enabling directional communication and enhanced signal reception. ULAs are commonly used in applications such as radar systems, wireless communications, and satellite communications due to their simplicity and efficiency.
ULA Beam Pattern
Steering Angle (°):
Element Separation (λ fraction):
Number of Elements:
The coefficients to steer a linear array into a direction \(\theta\) can be computed as follows:
\[ i = 1, ..., m \]
\[ e^{i\cdot k} \]
UCA
A Uniform Circular Array (UCA) antenna consists of multiple antenna elements arranged evenly in a circular pattern. The elements are spaced equally along the circumference of the circle, and the antenna is typically fed from the center. UCAs are commonly used in applications requiring omnidirectional or complex beamforming capabilities, such as in radar, satellite communication, and wireless networks.
Omnidirectional Pattern: In the plane of the array, UCAs can provide an omnidirectional radiation pattern.
Beamforming: By adjusting the phase shifts of the signals fed to each element, a UCA can form directed beams in various directions, enabling applications like beam steering.
Applications: UCAs are ideal for systems where 360-degree coverage is required, such as mobile base stations or monitoring systems.
The uniform distribution of elements in a circular shape makes the UCA a flexible and efficient antenna design for several advanced communication systems.
UCA Beam Pattern
Steering Angle (°):
Radius (m):
Number of Elements:
Credits
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