This work presents a study where a sinusoidal corrugated antipodal Vivaldi antenna (SC-AVA) operating in the ultra-wideband (UWB) region is employed as a transducer for microwave imaging (MWI) of a cancerous breast. The functionality of the antenna within the UWB range is confirmed based on performance parameters like return loss, gain, radiation pattern, fidelity factor, and group delay. E-field distribution, H-field distribution, and near field directivity simulations in the presence of the breast phantom have also been carried out and reported. The practical application of the developed antenna for biomedical imaging is evaluated by measuring the specific absorption rate (SAR) readings at multiple frequencies within its operating range. The SAR readings are obtained from an electromagnetic simulator by modelling a realistic heterogeneous breast phantom with multiple embedded tumors, and placing them in close proximity to the transducer. The modelled SC-AVA is further utilized for imaging multiple tumors hidden inside the gland layer of the heterogeneous breast phantom developed in-house. The fabricated breast phantom is scanned using the in-house developed multistatic MWI setup. Based on the data obtained from the scanning setup the images are reconstructed using both the delay multiply and sum (DMAS) and iterative DMAS imaging algorithms. Furthermore, a comparison of the reconstructed images is done to check in which case the obtained images are closer to the fabricated breast phantom.

An orthogonally oriented microstrip-fed bi-element ultra-wideband (UWB) diversity antenna possessing a super-wide bandwidth, high isolation, and band rejection attributes is proposed. The intended diversity antenna uses a 2nd-order Cayley fractal tree-shaped neutralization line among a pair of radiating square monopoles along with additional components like extended ground stubs, hybrid Koch fractal parasitic elements, and an L-shaped defected ground structure to attain high isolation of <−20 dB over 3.1–18 GHz. To nullify the intervention from the existent wireless local area network band, a hybrid Koch–Minkowski slot is carved out from the radiators. A minimal inter-element spacing of 8 mm is attained with the suggested layout measuring 28 mm (L) × 42 mm (W) in extent. The numerical as well as experimental investigations of vital diversity attributes like the envelope correlation coefficient, mean effective gain, total active reflection coefficient, and multiplexing efficiency depict high diversity actualization. The consistency amidst the simulation as well as the empirical results recommends the worthiness of the intended antenna for handy UWB and UWB multiple-input multiple-output systems.

The design and development of a microstrip-based planar ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF) with single/multiple interference rejection capability is presented. The proposed BPF structure is developed based on the broadside coupled mechanism of microstrip/coplanar waveguide (CPW). The BPF has microstrips and short-circuited CPW capacitively coupled through the substrate. The basic frequency response generated from this geometry covers the necessary UWB spectrum (3.1–10.6 GHz) and possesses appreciable characteristics due to dual transmission zeros at either passband boundary. Multiple resonators are embedded in the basic BPF structure to develop passband notches to circumvent unnecessary interferences. A low-pass filter is later integrated into geometry to extend the upper stopband. The proposed structure is compact and covers an area of only 14 × 11.4 mm2.

With the rapid development of communication technology, the researches of multi-band filtering circuits have become more and more important. Multimode resonator (MMR) is one of the vital methods to provide multi-resonant modes within a single design. In this paper, a dual-band ultra-wideband bandpass filter (UWB-BPF) using stepped impedance stub-loaded resonators (SI-SLR) is presented. The main advantage of using SI-SLR is to have better performance with multimode behavior and more parameters to control resonant modes. SI-SLR combines the advantages of SIR and SLR structures, which gives a compact, high-performance multiband filter. The proposed filter design has compact size, sharp and flat response with low insertion loss (IL), low return loss (RL), and high band-to-band rejection. The filter is designed for UWB communication in wireless body area networks and fabricated on Arlon substrate with relative permittivity ${\varepsilon_{\textrm{r}}} = 3.25$, thickness $0.8\;{\textrm{mm}}$. The resulted dual-bands are centered at $4{\textrm{ GHz}}$ and $8.3{\textrm{ GHz}}$ with fractional bandwidths $37{\textrm{% }}$ and $48{\textrm{%}}$. The simulation was carried out using CST Microwave Studio. The filter provides good passband performances, with IL 0.49 dB and 0.31 dB at the center frequency of lower and higher bands, respectively. The band-to-band 40 dB rejection is realized by adding circular spiral at the input/output of the filter.

A low-profile multi-polarized MIMO ultra-wideband antenna suitable for body-centric communications is reported. MIMO configuration is achieved using the symmetric heptagonal monopole (SHM) antenna, a mirrored SHM antenna, an asymmetric ruby-shaped monopole (ARSM) antenna, and a mirrored ARSM antenna placed over the modified C-shaped ground plane (MCGP). The proposed antenna elements are designed to achieve resonance for the entire ultra-wideband frequency range. The SHM antenna is coupled with a co-planar waveguide to produce linear polarization. An ARSM antenna generates circular polarization utilizing an asymmetric geometry both in the radiator and a truncated ground plane. Both the SHM antenna and an ARSM antenna are aligned face-to-face over an MCGP plane and good isolation >15 dB is realized between the antenna elements. The gain and total efficiency for linear polarized and the circularly polarized antennas are 3.05–4.8 dBi/48–66% and from 2.8 to 5 dBic/52 to 70.5%, respectively. The specific absorption rate values are evaluated to understand their suitability for WBAN communications.

A small ultra-wideband (UWB) patch antenna for microwave breast imaging (MWI) applications is shown off in this paper. However, to improve the antenna performance relating to the bandwidth (BW), the radiating element of the suggested antenna is modified by adding slits in the patch as well as the ground plane. The proposed prototype has a relatively small size of 20 × 19 × 1.6 mm3 and it accomplishes a return loss below −10 dB (S11< −10 dB) at an overall BW of 7 GHz (4–11 GHz) with more than 3 dBi realized gain. The antenna is designed and simulated by using a finite integration technique-based simulator. In this way, the characteristics of the fabricated antenna are measured to examine the antenna performance. Indeed, the fidelity factor of face-to-face (FtF) and side-by-side (SbS) scenarios are also noticed for the same frequency range. In the final analysis, a simulation model of the antennas, that operate as a transceiver, and a breast phantom model with tumor sample is proposed for detecting cancerous tumor cells within the breast. Hence, the proposed approach is suitable for UWB based MWI applications in tumor cell detection.

Optimization of hyperparameters of artificial neural network (ANN) usually involves a trial and error approach which is not only computationally expensive but also fails to predict a near-optimal solution most of the time. To design a better optimized ANN model, evolutionary algorithms are widely utilized to determine hyperparameters. This work proposes hyperparameters optimization of the ANN model using an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm. The different ANN hyperparameters considered are a number of hidden layers, neurons in each hidden layer, activation function, and training function. The proposed technique is validated using inverse modeling of two meander line electromagnetic bandgap unit cells and a slotted ultra-wideband antenna loaded with EBG structures. Three other evolutionary algorithms viz. hybrid PSO, conventional PSO, and genetic algorithm are also adopted for the hyperparameter optimization of the ANN models for comparative analysis. Performances of all the models are evaluated using quantitative assessment parameters viz. mean square error, mean absolute percentage deviation, and coefficient of determination (R2). The comparative investigation establishes the accurate and efficient prediction capability of the ANN models tuned using IPSO compared to other evolutionary algorithms.

A new type of closed square ring decoupling structure is proposed in this letter, which can effectively reduce the coupling of antennas. The designed antenna is composed of two elliptical monopoles and a common ground loaded with a broadband parasitic decoupling structure. Considering the impedance matching, each antenna element is changed from the original rectangular microstrip feed to a tapered microstrip feed and etched a circular slot on the elliptical monopole patch. By comparison with the original antenna without any decoupling structure, through loading the broadband decoupling structure on the ground, the antenna isolation is improved by 10 dB in most frequency bands. Comparing simulation and measurement results, the antenna achieves better than 25 dB isolation over the whole operating band (3.3–12 GHz). By manufacturing and testing the antenna designed in this article, the excellent performance parameters obtained also prove that the antenna can be used in portable devices.

In this paper, we present a miniaturized ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF) with multiple transmission zeros (TZs), which is based on transition technology of microstrip with short-circuited coplanar waveguide (CPW). The ground plane of the BPF contains a multiple mode resonator (MMR)-based CPW which is capacitively linked through the dielectric to two open-circuited microstrip lines on the top. The MMR is initially designed to allocate its lowest three resonant modes quasi-equally inside the designated UWB spectrum (3.1–10.6 GHz). This is followed by optimization of microstrip lines to provide a good broadband response possessing minimum insertion loss, two TZs at the lower and upper passband edges that improve selectivity and a wide stopband with appreciable attenuation. Later, multiple-folded split ring resonators are coupled to the BPF to inject dual passband TZs. The predicted theory in simulation is verified against measured result and is found to be in good agreement. The prototype covers a substrate area of only 14.6 × 9.2 mm2.

In this paper, a compact stepped slot antenna for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications is proposed. A very small size and UWB bandwidth operation are achieved by integrating a stepped slot in the back side of the antenna. This stepped slot is excited by using a 50 Ω-feed line in the top side of the antenna. The antenna is characterized by an impedance bandwidth between 3.05 GHz and more than 12 GHz. The dimensions of the antenna are 17 mm × 8 mm × 1.27 mm, which leads to the most compact size compared with other works in the literature. The integrated stepped slot is divided into additional elementary slots, where each elementary slot has a matching point. Adding these elementary slots allows to increase further the operating bandwidth. The radiation pattern of the compact stepped slot antenna is omnidirectional in the H-plane and bidirectional in the E-plane. The measurement results agree well with the simulated ones in terms of impedance matching and radiation pattern.

This research paper introduces a ultra-wideband (UWB) multiple input multiple output (MIMO)/diversity antenna with three rejected bands using one compact electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure. The suggested EBG structure rejects three bands at WiMAX, WLAN, and the X-band within the passband of the UWB antenna. To achieve compactness in the conventional EBG structure, two via and square slots are introduced. This structure contributes to better impedance matching by using tapered feedline and slots in the radiating patch. To improve the isolation among all four compact UWB monopoles, decoupling strips are extended from the ground plane. Furthermore, the |S21| is below 17 dB in between the antenna elements and the envelope correlation coefficient is below 0.5, which are tolerable values within the UWB range. Furthermore, different MIMO/diversity characteristics are also discussed. An FR-4 substrate with dimensions of 38 × 45 × 1.6 mm3 is used for the fabrication of the suggested structure.

In this paper, a ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filter with stopband characteristics is presented using a multi-mode resonator (MMR) technique. An MMR is formed by loading three dumbbell-shaped (Mickey and circular) shunt stubs placed in the center and two symmetrical locations from ports, respectively. Three circular and arrowhead defected ground structures on the ground plane are introduced to achieve UWB bandwidth with a better roll-off rate. The proposed filter exhibits stopband characteristics from 10.8 to 20 GHz with a 0.4 dB return loss. The group delay and roll-off rate of the designed filter are <0.30 ns in the passband and 16 dB/GHz at lower and higher cut-off frequencies, respectively. The dimension of the filter is 0.74λg × 0.67λg mm2 and was fabricated on a cost-effective substrate. All simulated results are verified through the experimental results.

In this paper, a compact quintuple notched-band ultra-wideband bandpass filter with high selectivity and wide bandwidth is proposed. The filter adopts an approximate closed-loop C-shaped stepped impedance resonator to generate triple notched bands, and uses Hilbert fractal curve slit and L-shaped resonator to create single notched band, respectively. Multiple notched-band are centered at 5.29, 6.61, 7.92, 8.95, and 9.93 GHz to eliminate undesired interference from coexisting wireless services of WLAN, C-band, and X-band. Additionally, two transmission zeros are introduced to enhance the sharp skirt selectivity up to 0.944. This filter could exhibit high sharp selectivity and wider bandwidth simultaneously. The filter is fabricated on a RT/Duroid 5880 substrate (ɛr = 2.2 and thickness = 0.787 mm) and measured to verify the simulation results. Both simulation and measurement are in well agreement, showing the good performance of the filter.

This paper presents a notched band ultra-wideband bandpass filter using a single perturbed quint-mode half-mode substrate-integrated waveguide cavity. The cavity is perturbed by loading four stubs at two corners of the magnetic walls of the single cavity. The variable parameters of stubs are selected to move down the first five resonant modes to the predetermined passband during the design process. Meanwhile, microstrip lines with a transition structure located on two loaded stubs are employed to feed the resonator. Moreover, the filter also firstly designs a notched band by introducing a complementary split-ring resonator inside the cavity to mitigate potential interference signals at 8 GHz (satellite communication). Finally, a prototype filter was implemented and measured to verify.

This paper presents the design and analysis of a miniaturized, coplanar waveguide-fed ultra-wideband monopole on-chip antenna with band-notch characteristics. By incorporating a “U”-shaped slot in the feedline, a band-notch is realized in the frequency range of 7.9–8.4 GHz to avoid interference from the X-band uplink satellite communication system. The proposed antenna achieved good voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) characteristics with VSWR value <2 for the frequency range of 2.5–20.1 GHz excluding the band-notched frequencies. The fractional bandwidth and bandwidth ratio are obtained as 156% and 8.04:1, respectively. Dominant factors that affect the center frequency and bandwidth of the notched band are thoroughly investigated. This paper addresses both frequency as well as time domain behavior of the proposed structure. Standard 675 µm thick, high resistive silicon substrate (ρ≥8 kΩ-cm, εr = 11.8, and tan δ = 0.01) is used to design the proposed compact antenna structure with a layout area of 8.5 × 11.5 mm2. Fabrication process steps along with simulated and measured data are presented here. A close analogy between simulated and measured data is observed.

A compact ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF) based on surface-to-surface transition technology with features of extended stopband and integrated interference mitigation characteristics is proposed. The basic structure consists of a modified multiple-mode resonator (MMR)-based co-planar waveguide in the ground surface and coupled in broadside manner with the microstrip lines on the top surface. Later, two open-circuited stubs are embedded in the feeding lines and two complementary split ring resonators are etched in the MMR to implement multiple in-band transmission zeros so as to circumvent interference. A prototype is fabricated and measured to validate the results obtained in simulation. The proposed UWB-BPF is compact in size with overall dimensions of 17.82 by 11.08 mm2.

A simple multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna with quad-band-notched characteristics for ultra-wideband (UWB) system is proposed and tested in the article. Based on two similar radiators, the UWB-MIMO system only occupies 22 mm × 28 mm. By etching an inverted L-like meander slot, two inverted L-shaped slots, and adding a C-shaped stub beside the feeding line, four notched bands are realized (3.25–3.6, 5.05–5.48, 5.6–6, and 7.8–8.4 GHz) to suppress interference from WiMAX, lower WLAN, upper WLAN, and uplink of X-band satellite communication system. With a T-like stub extruding from the ground plane, port isolation is effectively improved. The results show that the antenna covers 3.1–10.6 GHz UWB frequency band except four rejected bands and has high isolation of better than −20 dB over most of the frequency band. Moreover, envelope correlation coefficient and good radiation patterns also prove that the introduced antenna is suitable for UWB applications.

In this paper, an ultra-wideband (UWB) band-pass filter (BPF) with a sharp notch band is presented. The UWB BPF consists of modified elliptical-ring and multi-mode stub-loaded resonator (MM-SLR). By adding the asymmetric tight coupled lines resonator via input/output (I/O) lines, it can be achieved UWB band-pass response. With adding two bends to the middle resonator, a notch band at 6.86 GHz is created, so that it can be controlled using the mathematical formulas (MF). In the meantime, the equivalent circuit of the middle resonator is obtained using L–C analysis. Measured results of fabricated filter have the advantage such as ultra-wide pass band (fl and fH of the defined UWB pass band are 3.776 and 10.42 GHz, which satisfy the requirements of FCC-specified UWB limits), compact size, low insertion loss <0.65 dB and the stop band of the proposed filter is from 11.1 to 16.32 GHz with attenuation of −39.8 to −42.14 dB, respectively. The proposed UWB filter is realized using the substrate with dielectric constant of 2.2 and substrate height of 0.787 mm. Experimental verification is provided and good agreement has been found between simulation and measurement results.

The design of a novel microstrip ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filter with quad narrow notched-band functionality is presented. The filter consists of a multi-mode resonator (MMR) constituted from two modified stepped-impedance stubs that generate six resonate modes, five of which are within the UWB passband where the sixth mode is used to extend the upper stopband of the filter. Two transmission zeroes are located at the 3-dB edge of the passband to enhance the filter's selectivity with a skirt factor of 0.955. The MMR is fed through asymmetric interdigital coupled-lines feed to produce controllable notched-band. Additional notched-bands are generated with a parasitic coupled line. The notched-bands are centered exactly to eliminate interference at 5.2 GHz (wireless local area network (WLAN)), 5.8 GHz (WLAN), 6.8 GHz (radio-frequency identification), and 8 GHz (X-band). Good agreement is obtained between simulation and measurement results. The highly compact filter has dimensions of 8.0 × 9.83 mm2.

In this paper, a frequency reconfigurable microstrip slot antenna for ultra-wideband applications with switchable band-notch functions is designed and manufactured. To generate a wide usable fractional bandwidth of 3 to over 13.6 GHz, square patch transforms to a fork-shaped patch, also two triangular-shaped strips have been added at above sections of rectangular slot on the ground plane. Band rejections are obtained by adding two inverted L-shaped strips in the fork-shaped patch and one L-shaped defected ground structure. Moreover, by implementation of two PIN diodes within the antenna structure, four switchable frequency responses are achieved. The designed antenna has simple structure and a small size of 20 × 20 × 0.8 mm3 while providing band rejection characteristics at WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) and WLAN (Wireless Local Area Networks) systems.