In this paper, a coplanar waveguide-fed ultra-wideband-multiple-input and multiple-output (UWB-MIMO) antenna with a novel stub for isolation has been presented. The dimensions of the proposed antenna are 18 × 22 × 1.6 mm3. The proposed antenna is design on an FR4 substrate and simulated in CST studio. The |S11| of the presented MIMO antenna is less than −10 dB between 2.8 and 13 GHz with an impedance bandwidth of 10.2 GHz. The envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) is less than 0.007 and diversity gain (DG) is greater than 9.97 dB. The proposed UWB-MIMO antenna is analyzed in terms of isolation, reflection coefficient, current distribution, ECC, DG, peak gain, multiplexing efficiency, and radiation pattern.

Design and development of cheap and eco-friendly microwave absorber are one of the challenging and interesting topics for the scientific community nowadays. This paper proposes the design and fabrication of corn husk-based low cost, light-weight, and flexible microwave absorber treated as a promising eco-friendly microwave absorber. In this work, an extensive study on microwave absorption efficiency of corn husk at different thicknesses is performed in the frequency range of 1–20 GHz. The absorber at 5.21 mm thickness possesses a return loss (RL) of −32.72247 dB at 2.255 GHz. The measured RL values agree well with simulated ones, indicating the utility of proposed absorber for various practical microwave absorption applications.

A new class of compact rectangular waveguide filters is proposed in this paper. The key element is a square ridge resonator realized within a rectangular waveguide supporting the fundamental TE10 mode. The square ridge can support two modes resonating along orthogonal directions in the gap between the ridge and the opposite waveguide wall. This structure enables dual-mode degeneracy without the need of oversized cavities, thus allowing for considerable size reduction with respect to the conventional dual-mode implementations. Different filter structures employing one or more ridges within short waveguide sections are proposed as attractive solutions for pseudo-elliptic band-pass or dual-band filters. The experimental results of a manufactured fourth-order pseudo-elliptic pass-band filter validate the feasibility of the proposed class of filters.

This paper presents an original solution to design a compact dual circularly polarized isoflux antenna for nanosatellite applications. This kind of antenna has been previously designed in our laboratory, for a single circular polarization. This antenna is composed of a dual circularly polarized feed and a choke horn antenna. This feed is a cross-shaped slot in the ground plane, which provides coupling between a patch and a ring microstrip line with two ports. It is located at the center of a choke horn antenna. The simulated antenna presents an axial ratio <3 dB and a realized gain close to 0 dB over a 400 MHz bandwidth (8.0–8.4 GHz) at the limit of coverage, i.e. 65° whatever the azimuth angle (φ) and the port. A 20 dB matching for each port and 13 dB isolation characteristics between the two ports have been achieved on this bandwidth. It has been realized and successfully measured.

As a recently proposed concept, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radars exhibit much higher spatial resolution than traditional transmitter based radars because of the synthesized virtual array. In this paper, the problem of minimum redundancy (MR)-MIMO array synthesis is addressed, which seeks to maximize the virtual array aperture of MIMO radars for a given number of transmitting and receiving elements. A hybrid method combining autocorrelation property of cyclic difference sets (CDSs) and global search characteristics of ant colony optimization (ACO) is proposed for a rapid and numerically-effective exploration of MR-MIMO array configurations. Numerical experiments validate the proposed method, showing improvements in convergence rate and computational cost with respect to bare ACO-based search as well as improvements in the generality and configuration variety with respect to the CDS-based method.

In this research article, a compact wideband stack patch antenna array integrated with compact stack electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) application is proposed. The wide resonance bandwidth is achieved at 2.45 GHz band by stack arrangement of compact meander line slot driven and parasitic patch elements. The isolation bandwidth is matched with resonance bandwidth with the design of a compact stack L slot EBG structure. The polarization diversity and three-layer EBG structure ensure an enhancement in isolation level. To validate the performance of the proposed stack antenna array, a prototype was fabricated and tested for different MIMO parameters. The measured result confirms the effectiveness of the proposed antenna array in a diverse MIMO environment.

This paper presents a novel dual-band (DB) dual-polarized (DP) shared aperture antenna with high isolation by using a combination of microstrip dipoles and dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) for S and C bands, respectively. In the S band, two sets of proximity coupled stacked microstrip dipoles which crossed at the center are employed to achieve dual-linear polarization (DLP) and obtain desired bandwidth (BW), isolation, and pure polarization. The rectangle DRA with hybrid feed is selected as the C band element for its advantages of small base area and high isolation, and a 2 × 2 array is presented with the “pair-wise” anti-phase feed technique to achieve a low cross-polarized level. Moreover, benefited from the back feed scheme, the proposed antenna has a symmetrical structure and has the potential of expanding into a larger aperture. The proposed antenna has been manufactured and measured, and the results agree well with simulations, which prove the validity of the proposed design.

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2021 15th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP) and was published in its Proceedings. This paper describes a design, fabrication, and characterization of a planar frequency-coded retroreflector for indoor localization. The retroreflector is fabricated in high-resistive silicon and consists of a Luneburg lens antenna and a photonic crystal high-Q resonator reflective layer, providing ranging and identification within the same tag and bandwidth. The Luneburg lens antenna presents a measured gain of 21.63 dBi at a design frequency of 240 GHz. The frequency-coded retroreflector allows for ranging in a continuous 130 degree angular range in azimuthal plane, with a discrete but repeatable two-resonance identification over multiples of 15 degree. Its maximum measured radar cross-section is −23.48 dBsqm at a frequency of 240 GHz. The retroreflective tag set in ideal line-of-sight situation is compared to a non-line-of-sight arrangement showing the influence of a metallic rod as an obstacle on the overall tag detection parameters. Finally, the successful read-out of the retroreflective tag is discussed in unknown environments, where no a-priori information is available.

This paper presents a multi-mode resonator (MMR) for next-generation wireless systems that achieves single and dual-band bandpass filter (BPF) responses using a split-ring dual-path structure. The proposed BPF design is realized by employing two pairs of parallel couple lines and two symmetrical step-impedance open-circuited stubs (SIOCS). SIOCS are used to improve selectivity and increase the number of transmission zeros/poles. The proposed single-band BPF exhibits an ultra-wideband (UWB) response having a center frequency of 7.5 GHz, a minimum insertion loss of less than 0.48 dB, and a maximum return loss of 25.35 dB. The proposed UWB BPF has a stopband suppression of 39.34 dB up to 18 GHz and a 3 dB fractional bandwidth of 48.23%. Moreover, a dual-band BPF has been accomplished by utilizing the same architecture while slightly changing the MMR structure and adding more coupling. The center frequency (bandwidth) of the dual broadband BPF is 7.40 GHz (2.40 GHz) and 14.15 GHz (1.7 GHz), respectively. The measured minimum insertion loss is less than 0.23 dB and a return loss of less than 16.8 dB with 3 dB FBWs of 32.4 and 12.1%. Finally, two prototypes are fabricated to validate the proposed characteristics. The BPF's simulated and measured results are in good agreement.

Microwave radars can be used to monitor the internal structure of the snowpack, delivering real-time and non-destructive measurements. Recently, the working principle of an innovative radar architecture able to identify some of the most important snowpack parameters, without external aids, has been demonstrated. A key point of this new architecture is the use of two independent receiving antennas, and one transmitting antenna. This paper presents a comparison between two different implementations, either based on one physical antenna miming two receiving antennas, or based directly on two physical receiving antennas. The different advantages and disadvantages of both solutions are discussed, highlighting the superior accuracy achieved by the implementation based on two physical receiving antennas. Then, this paper also presents the field results achieved by this type of radar architecture, on the grounds of a 5-day experimental campaign that took place in winter 2019 in the Italian Alps on dry snow. The comparison between the radar measurements and the ground truth (manual snowpit analysis, in terms of snowpack depth, dielectric constant, bulk density, and snow water equivalent) is provided. Overall, a root mean square error of around 3.5 cm, 0.05, 27 kg/m3, and 2.5 cm is achieved, respectively.

In this paper, a light-controlled frequency reconfigurable antenna is presented for 5 G, WLAN, and radio altimeter applications. The given (44 × 28) mm2 antenna consists of a radiating V-shaped structure and three stub arrangements. The main λ/2 length stub is used to feed the antenna and the two λ/4, λ/8 length open-circuited stubs are located perpendicular to the main feeding stub for tuning the frequency of the antenna. The length of the stubs can be adjusted by placing (4 × 1.2) mm photodiode switches on the perpendicular stubs. Four experiments are carried out to analyze the performance of the antenna. When light and DC bias voltage is not applied (Experiment-1) to the photodiodes the proposed antenna radiates from 4.1 to 4.63 GHz with 12% bandwidth. When light is applied to the photodiode without DC bias voltage and DC bias voltage is applied without light (Experiment-2,3) the antenna reconfigures its frequency band from 3.43 to 3.6GHz and 4.8 to 5.4 GHz with 4.85% and 12% bandwidth respectively. The antenna shifts the radiation from 4.8 to 5.5 GHz with 14% bandwidth when the light and DC bias voltage is applied to the antenna(Experiment-4). The measured gain of the proposed antenna is greater than 3.8dBi in all the experiments.

This paper presents performances achieved with InAlGaN/GaN HEMTs with 0.15 µm gate length on SiC substrate. Technology Computer Aided Design simulations were used to optimize the heterostructure. Special attention was paid to the design of the buffer structure. I-V measurements with DC and pulsed bias voltages were performed. CW measurements at millimeter waves were also carried out and are detailed in the following sections. The technology, optimized for power applications up to 45 GHz, demonstrates a current gain cut-off frequency FT of 70 GHz and a maximum available gain cut-off frequency FMAG of 140 GHz. CW Load-pull power measurements at 30 GHz enable to achieve a maximum PAE of 41% associated with an output power density of 3.5 W/mm when biased at VDS = 20 V. These devices, with an improved buffer structure show, reduced recovery time in pulsed operating conditions. These improved characteristics should have a positive impact for pulsed or modulated signal applications.

In this study, the implicit Crank–Nicolson finite-difference time-domain (CN-FDTD) method is applied to discretize the governing telegrapher's equations of a composite right-/left-handed (CRLH) coupled-line coupler. The unconditionally stable CN-FDTD is compared with the conventional leap-frog (LF) FDTD method. The results obtained from the CN-FDTD scheme show up to 10 times increase in the temporal step size, reflecting in a dramatic decrease in processing time; in addition to having a good agreement with the LF method and the measurements.

This paper presents the design of a sixth-order cross-coupled L-band filter, specifically intended for space applications. The solution was based on the principle of stepped impedance coaxial resonators (SIRs), which allowed us to fulfill several electrical and size specifications and more particularly a high multipactor threshold. The degrees of freedom afforded by the proposed topology offer a wide choice of design configuration possibilities. Whatever the central frequency and required specifications, several compromises can be made in terms of volume, height, footprint, quality factor, multipactor threshold, harmonic rejection, etc. For instance, SIR coaxial topology is very well suited to small L-band filters when moderate quality factors and multipactor thresholds of around 4000 and 400 W, respectively, are requested. The design procedure is presented and simulations and measurements are compared and discussed.

The present paper reports the gain enhancement over a wideband (12–15 GHz) in a coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed circular patch antenna with circular defected ground structure (DGS). Two compact coplanar circular antennas have been designed and fabricated with and without DGS of same volume 18 × 20 × 1.6 mm3, built over FR4-epoxy substrate (εr = 4.4). Gain enhancement has been achieved by optimizing the current distribution with suitable DGS. For this purpose, structural designs have been optimized by parametric simulations in HFSS and CST MWS. Both the antennas can perform well in variety of wireless communication including WLAN IEEE 802.11 g/a (5.15–5.35 GHz and 5.725–5.825 GHz) and X-band applications including short range, tracking, missile guidance, and radar communication that ranges roughly from 8.29 to 11.4 GHz. The measured experimental results show that impedance bandwidth (S11 < −10 dB) of antenna with DGS is 100%. The antenna with DGS offers gain improvement by 2.7 dB for 13 GHz and 7 dB for 14 GHz. The performance of antenna with DGS is compared to conventional CPW-fed circular patch antenna (without DGS) in terms of reflection coefficient, radiation characteristics, and gain.

Microwave filters and multiplexers commonly employ tuning screws to compensate for small errors occurring during the fabrication process. Nevertheless, the use of tuning screws has some disadvantages, because the small gaps between the screws and the holes are prone to create unwanted effects when dealing with high-power signals, especially for space applications, and are also the source of potential radiation losses. In this paper, an alternative technique to correct manufacturing deviations is presented, in which tuning screws are replaced by fixed metal insertions. In this case, the correction is made by means of designing new insertion pieces that will be able to correct those small deviations. In order to find the dimensions of the new pieces, a space-mapping technique is applied. For verification purposes, the method has been applied over a circular-waveguide dual-mode filter and later over a manifold multiplexer containing the same type of filters. However, the technique can be directly extended to other types of waveguide filters and multiplexers where tuning screws are also employed.

The dynamic characteristic of rain fade slope is one important factor in determining the availability of a communication system, and it is very useful in the design of fade countermeasures. In the literature, many models were proposed for rain fade slope for earth-to-satellite links. However, there are no models available for rain fade point to point terrestrial microwave links. This paper proposes a new model for the estimation of rain fade slope statistics for terrestrial microwave links in tropical regions. First, the ITU-R model for rain fade slope for earth-to-satellite link was compared with the corresponding statistics obtained from rain attenuation data measured from three terrestrial links in Malaysia. It is found that the expression of its distribution and its standard deviation should be modified. This leads to the derivation of the proposed rain fade slope model based on the statistics of one link. Then, it is tested using the remaining data and its results were very close to the measured statistics for all attenuation levels higher than 1 dB. Moreover, the model was validated using the chi-square goodness-of-fit test.

This paper presents a procedure for the design of tensorial metasurface antennas radiating polarized beams through aperture field synthesis. The aperture field is generated using the surface wave to leaky wave conversion resulting from metasurface modulation. The design procedure of the feeder is presented with a description of the geometrical parameters affecting the antenna matching. Numerical solutions for single beam and multi-beam metasurface antennas working respectively, at 12.25 and 20 GHz are presented. In addition, a metasurface prototype working at 12.25 GHz is manufactured and measured.

A modified H-shaped metamaterial is imparted in this paper that has a multiple band coverage for reflection and transmission coefficient. The proposed structure exhibits triple band coverage for the permittivity and permeability. Two split ring resonators (SRR) are connected with the substantial H-shaped structure. The 12 × 12 mm2 structure has been printed on FR-4 and a correlation is made between the basic unit-cell and array structures. A comparison is made among 1 × 2, 2 × 2, and 4 × 4 array structures with 1 × 2, 2 × 2, and 4 × 4 unit-cell configurations to validate the performance of the proposed metamaterial. A great transmission coefficient having a band of 13 GHz with a 500 MHz band gap in the middle is demonstrated for all of these configurations. The effective parameters of the resonators cover C, X, and Ku bands independently with double-negative phenomena at X and Ku bands with a frequency range of about 2.5 GHz. The reflection and transmission coefficients of the unit cell are obtained by CST microwave studio. Having an auspicious design and wide range double-negative characteristics, this structure can be applied to satellite communication.

A passive evanescent mode half-mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) resonator loaded with a complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) is designed and fabricated for humidity sensing applications. The use of the CSRR which is etched on the top plane of the HMSIW can significantly reduce the size of the device. Without any sensing material, the sensor which has a compact size of 0.17λg × 0.17λg can provide high humidity sensitivity up to 5.82 MHz/%relative humidity (RH) at high RH region (>84.3%). The results indicate that the proposed structure is a promising candidate for radio and microwave humidity sensing applications.