In this paper, a slow-wave transmission line implemented in coplanar waveguide technology, based on simultaneous inductive and capacitive loading, is presented for the first time. The shunt capacitors are achieved by periodically etching transverse strips in the back substrate side, connected to the central strip through metallic vias. The series inductors are implemented by etching rectangular slots in the ground plane. The effect of these reactive elements is an enhancement of the effective shunt capacitance and series inductance of the line, leading to a significant reduction of the phase velocity (slow-wave effect). Consequently, the guided wavelength is also reduced, and these lines can be applied to the miniaturization of microwave components. Moreover, due to periodicity, these artificial lines exhibit stop bands (Bragg effect) useful for spurious or harmonic suppression. A compact harmonic suppressed power splitter, based on a slow wave 35.35 Ω impedance inverter, has been designed and fabricated in order to demonstrate the potential of the proposed approach. The length of the inverter is 48% the length of the conventional counterpart, and measured power splitting at the first (3f0) and second (5f0) harmonic frequencies is rejected more than 49 and 23 dB, respectively.

In the framework of the Top Amplifier Research Groups in a European Team (TARGET) project, we developed a new electrical method for the temperature measurement of HEMTs and performed several unique studies on the self-heating effects in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. This method, in combination with transient interferometric mapping (TIM), provides a fundamental understanding of the heat propagation in a transient state of HEMTs. The AlGaN/GaN/Si HEMT thermal resistance was determined to be ~70 K/W after 400 ns from the start of a pulse, and the heating time constant was ~200 ns. Our experimental methods were further applied on multifinger high-power AlGaN/GaN/sapphire HEMTs. The TIM method indicates that the airbridge structure serves as a cooler, removing approximately 10% of the heat energy. In the next study we used TIM and the micro-Raman technique to quantify thermal boundary resistance (TBR) between different wafer materials and GaN epi-structure. We found TBR to be ~7 × 10−8 m2K/W for GaN/Si and ~1.2 × 10−7 m2K/W for GaN/SiC interfaces. The role of TBR at the GaN/sapphire interface was found to be less important.

A fast imaging algorithm for real-time use in short-range (ultra-wideband) radar with synthetic or real-array aperture is proposed. The reflected field is presented here as a convolution of the target reflectivity and point spread function (PSF) of the imaging system. To obtain a focused 3D image, the proposed algorithm deconvolves the PSF out from the acquired data volume with high speed due to fast Fourier transform and implementation in frequency-wavenumber domain. Then the result is tested against two numerical criteria for efficiency, namely error and instability, whose optimal values can be obtained iteratively. Since the PSF differs with distance, the algorithm suits mainly applications with relatively small objects such as concealed weapon detection. Using several PSFs allows us to image a certain range of interest by their successive deconvolution from the same data. Performance of the algorithm has been evaluated experimentally and compared with that of Kirchhoff migration. Measurements were carried out by a 5–25 GHz synthetic aperture radar in the lab, and scenarios included a gun and a ceramic knife in free space, on a large metal plate, and a gun concealed on a dummy under a thick raincoat. The results demonstrate sufficient image quality obtained in a fraction of time.

A compact printed quadrant shaped monopole antenna is introduced in this paper as a good prospect for ultra wideband- multiple-input multiple-output (UWB-MIMO) system. The proposed MIMO antenna comprises two perpendicularly oriented monopoles to employ polarization diversity. An open circuit folded stub is extended from the ground plane of each radiating element to enhance the impedance bandwidth satisfying the UWB criteria. Two ‘L’ shaped slots are further etched on the radiator to provide good isolation performance between two radiators. The desirable radiator performances and diversity performances are ensured by simulation and/or measurement of the reflection coefficient, radiation pattern, realized peak gain, envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), diversity gain, mean effective gain (MEG) ratio and channel capacity loss (CCL). Results indicate that the proposed antenna exhibits 2.9–11 GHz 10 dB return loss bandwidth, mutual coupling <−20 dB, ECC < 0.003, MEG ratio ≈ 1, and CCL < 0.038 Bpsec/Hz, making it a good candidate for UWB and MIMO diversity application.

A compact printed reconfigurable monopole antenna with switchable band-notches is designed and manufactured. The proposed antenna mainly consists of a disc-like radiator with two pairs of T-shaped strips protruded inside a rectangular aperture. Five PIN diode switches are employed to bridge or open the slots, which allow the antenna to be configured into three different structures functioning as an ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna, or an antenna with notched frequencies at WLAN or WiMAX band. Design and optimization of the antenna are done using CST Microwave Studio. After fabrication on an FR4 substrate with dimensions of 35 mm (width) × 41 mm (length) × 1.5 mm (thickness), numerical and experimental results of the proposed reconfigurable antenna are presented and discussed. The experimental results confirm the design as a good candidate for UWB applications.

Achieving robust and fast two-dimensional adaptive beamforming of phased array antennas is a challenging problem due to its high-computational complexity. To address this problem, a deep-learning-based beamforming method is presented in this paper. In particular, the optimum weight vector is computed by modeling the problem as a convolutional neural network (CNN), which is trained with I/O pairs obtained from the optimum Wiener solution. In order to exhibit the robustness of the new technique, it is applied on an 8 × 8 phased array antenna and compared with a shallow (non-deep) neural network namely, radial basis function neural network. The results reveal that the CNN leads to nearly optimal Wiener weights even in the presence of array imperfections.

A novel, broadband, nonlinear behavioral model, based on support vector regression (SVR) is presented in this paper. The proposed model, distinct from existing SVR-based models, incorporates frequency information into its formalism, allowing the model to perform accurate prediction across a wide frequency band. The basic theory of the proposed model, along with model implementation and the model extraction procedure for radio frequency transistor devices is provided. The model is verified through comparisons with the simulation of an equivalent circuit model, as well as experimental measurements of a 10 W Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistor. It is seen that the efficiency prediction throughout the Smith chart, for varying fundamental and second harmonic loads, across a wideband frequency range, show excellent fidelity to the measured results. Device dc self-biasing is also modelled to allow prediction of power amplifier (PA) efficiency, which is shown to be highly accurate when compared with corresponding measured data. Finally, a class-J PA is constructed and measured across the frequency with a large-signal input tone. The resulting measured and modelled values of key PA performance figures are shown to be in excellent agreement, indicating the model is suitable for broadband PA design.

A high-directivity switched-beam antenna in the V-band is presented and includes a circularly-polarized transmit-array realized in a low-cost printed technology associated with a focal source array integrated on high-resistivity silicon. The measurements show a maximum gain of 12.1 dBi, a 3-dB gain-bandwidth of 57.8–70 GHz, and an axial ratio below 5 dB. The antenna exhibits five beams pointing from −22° to +23° in one plane, its size of 25 × 25 × 10 mm3 is compatible with the integration in different multimedia communication devices.

The paper presents a numerical simulation of the propagation characteristics of symmetric E-type and H-type waves in microwave circular shielded waveguide with radially inhomogeneous dielectric filling. Using the modified Galerkin method, the calculation of a circular two-layer shielded waveguide was carried out, as a result of which the distribution of the electromagnetic field of the waveguide with linear and parabolic distribution of permeability was determined. The results obtained using the modified Galerkin method were compared with the results obtained using the classical partial domain method, which agree well enough.

The paper presents a 1 × 2 B-shaped antenna array for dual-band operation at 4 and 8 GHz. The antenna design consists of a rectangular patch with two annular-strip lines fabricated on the top layer and finite ground plane on the bottom layer. The array is formed by designing an optimum T-shaped microstrip line for impedance matching. The dimensions of the antenna array are 78 × 36 × 1.6 mm3. Full-wave simulations have been conducted and the measured results are in good consent with the simulated results. The measured impedance bandwidth (reference −10 dB) has been observed at 3.84–4.16 and 7.78–8.38 GHz. Measured peak gain and radiation efficiency at 4 and 8 GHz are 8.3, 9.4 dB and 82.5 and 81.2%, respectively.

Design of single-feed circularly polarized (CP) microstrip antenna is proposed in this article. The design employs the concept of E-shape patch with inclined fractal defected ground structure (IFDGS), which can improve the impedance bandwidth, gain, and axial ratio (AR) bandwidth. The excellent enhanced impedance bandwidth, axial ratio bandwidth, and gain are achieved by an inclined E-shaped fractal etched on the ground plane. The parameter studies of the E-shaped IFDGS are given to illustrate the way to obtain CP radiation. The third iterative IFDGS is fabricated on easily available FR4 substrate with a size of 0.494 λ0 × 0.494 λ0 × 0.019 λ0 (λ0 is the wavelength in free space at 3.624 GHz). The measured results verify the simulated results and show good agreement. The proposed antenna shows an impedance bandwidth of 12.7% at a centre frequency of 3.47 GHz and 3-dB AR bandwidth for this band is 2.39% at a centre frequency of 3.626 GHz. The measured peak gain for the proposed antenna is found as 8.1 dBi. The proposed antenna can be suitable for mobile WIMAX operation (IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard), wireless communication in CA-band and FCC.

A novel compact ultra-wideband (UWB) eight-way ring-cavity power divider is presented in this paper. To broaden the bandwidth of the power divider/combiner, the stepped-impedance technology is used to realize the impedance match. The network of this eight-way ring-cavity power divider has been analyzed. The measured results reasonably agree with the simulated ones. The measured return loss is greater than 10 dB from 5.2 to 18.6 GHz. The average insertion loss, amplitude imbalance, and phase imbalance are around 9.4 dB (including the 9-dB power-dividing insertion loss), ±0.7 dB, ±6°, respectively, across the entire operating frequency range.

Owing to dynamic nature of vehicular environments, it becomes essential to achieve effective communication via vehicle-to-vehicle and infrastructure-to-vehicle. This leads to the need for an antenna system that supports multiple frequency bands, high gain, broadside radiation pattern, and circular polarization. We propose single-arm penta-band-based spiral antenna with dimensions of 51 × 35 × 1.574 mm3 resonating at navigational wireless frequencies 1.2 GHz for IRNSS and 1.5 GHz for GPS; wireless communication frequencies 2.45 and 3.3 GHz and dedicated short range communication frequency 5.8 GHz. Linear taper feed has been introduced to achieve good impedance matching and the outer edge feed of the spiral on the same plane helps to achieve circular polarization. The measurement result proves the betterment in impedance of the spiral antenna that varies from 50 –55 Ω across the desired operating frequencies.

This paper investigates the effect of spontaneous polarization of magnetron-sputtered aluminum nitride on the electrical properties and reliability of Radio Frequency – Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems capacitive switches. The assessment is performed with the aid of application of thermally stimulated polarization currents in metal-insulator-metal capacitors and temperature dependence of device capacitance. The study reveals the presence of a surface charge, which is smaller than that expected from material spontaneous polarization, but definitely is responsible for the low degradation rate under certain bias polarization life tests.

Various wireless applications are currently under development for the unlicensed 60 GHz band. This paper describes three examples with different system requirements. The first two are point-to-multipoint wireless networks (in an airplane and in a car) and the third one is a short range point-to-point connection. Special requirements of the applications are a high number of users for the point-to-multipoint connection and a high data rate of 10 Gbit/s for the point-to-point connection system. Implementation aspects are pointed out, which are important to demonstrate the functionality of the system in a relevant environment and are key aspects to develop the related products. For example, integration aspects of the antenna into an airplane passenger seat and the receiver concept of the radio frequency-(RF) front-end to reducing the power consumption at ultrahigh data rates are described. Additionally, to determine the geometrical system architecture, ray-tracing simulations inside an aircraft and inside a car were performed.

In this article, a meander line-shaped pentaband (2.18–2.24, 2.38–2.46, 2.65–2.70, 3.10–3.32, 3.38–3.46 GHz) four-element multiple-input–multiple-output antenna is presented. The proposed antenna is also circularly polarized in two bands (at 2.2 and 2.4 GHz) with dual-polarization like right-handed at port 1 or 3 and left-handed at port 2 or 4, which is widely used for mobile satellite services (MSS) and Internet of Things applications. This antenna is designed and fabricated with compact size 50 × 70 × 1.6 mm3 on the FR-4 substrate with good diversity performance in pentaband. Simulated results of antenna-like return loss, isolation, and parameters-related diversity have also been tested experimentally in a controlled environment, which is within the permissible limit. The designed antenna will be appropriate for MSS, industrial scientific and medical (ISM), broadband radio services and educational broadband services, WiMAX radio location services, and amateur radio services. Meanwhile, specific absorption rate of the designed antenna has been examined in an empirical environment for the Fresnel radiating near-field applications.

In this study, a compact modified circular ring-based circuit analog absorber (CAA) is proposed. It comprises a resistor-loaded frequency selective surface (FSS) underneath an FR-4 substrate, and the other end is terminated with a perfect electric conductor (PEC) separated by an air-spacer. The proposed design shows a minimum −10 dB reflectance from 10.55 to 36.03 GHz (25.48 GHz bandwidth and 109.4% fractional bandwidth) with two dips at 13.5 GHz and 35.23 GHz having reflectivity −17.18 dB and −24.9 dB, respectively. The existing four-fold circular symmetry architecture shows insensitivity for different polarization angles under normal incidences and up to 45° stability for Transverse Electric (TE) and Transverse Magnetic (TM) modes under oblique incidences. The proposed cell is compact with a periodicity of 0.193λL, and a thickness of 0.09λL, where λL is the free-space wavelength corresponding to the lowest frequency of the absorption band. The novelty of the design lies in the topology of using an underneath FSS to take advantage of effective permittivity control for both broader bandwidth and better angular stability. To demonstrate the ability of the proposed design, a 28 GHz microstrip patch antenna prototype is fabricated, and its radar cross section (RCS) is measured after loading with the absorber. A 15.15 dBsm RCS reduction is observed in comparison with the PEC. The authors strongly believe that the proposed design has potential applications such as RCS reduction and radio-frequency energy harvesting.

This paper presents for the first time a novel concept of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) waveguide switch based on a reconfigurable surface, whose working principle is to block the wave propagation by short-circuiting the electrical field lines of the TE10 mode of a WR-12 rectangular waveguide. The reconfigurable surface is only 30 µm thick and consists of up to 1260 micromachined cantilevers and 660 contact points in the waveguide cross-section, which are moved simultaneously by integrated MEMS comb-drive actuators. Measurements of fabricated prototypes show that the devices are blocking wave propagation in the OFF-state with over 30 dB isolation for all designs, and allow for transmission of less than 0.65 dB insertion loss for the best design in the ON-state for 60–70 GHz. Furthermore, the paper investigates the integration of such microchips into WR-12 waveguides, which is facilitated by tailor-made waveguide flanges and compliant, conductive-polymer interposer sheets. It is demonstrated by reference measurements where the measured insertion loss of the switches is mainly attributed to the chip-to-waveguide assembly. For the first prototypes of this novel MEMS microwave device concept, the comb-drive actuators did not function properly due to poor fabrication yield. Therefore, for measuring the OFF-state, the devices were fixated mechanically.

This paper presents a novel technique to design a Rotman lens feeding a wide bandwidth microstrip patch antenna array for 60 GHz radio frequency identification (RFID) applications. The proposed scheme supports both location positioning and increases the communication range through beam forming. The antenna array is designed using λ/4 microstrip transmission lines to support high gain, directivity, and bandwidth. The progressive phase delay using the Rotman lens is realized independently using transmission lines to reduce the complexity of the design and improve the performance parameters. The dummy ports are terminated by λ/4 radial stubs which eliminates the need for via holes and expensive connectors which reduces the fabrication costs.

This paper presents the design of all dielectric non-absorptive phase gradient reflective surfaces that can be used to manipulate the reflected electromagnetic waves at millimeter-wave regime. Compared with a bare perfect electrical conductor reflector which obeys the classical Snell's law of reflection, the presented design can effectively alter both the shape and level of the backscattered energy and thus radar cross section (RCS) reduction is achieved in the specular direction. One- and two-dimensional phase gradient reflective dielectric surfaces of phase change about 72° across their apertures are designed and their ability to manipulate the reflected waves under normal incidence are investigated both by means of full-wave simulations and experimentally tested for validation. More than 6 dB of specular RCS reduction is achieved from about 66.5–78.2 GHz.