Tune In Clearly On Antenna Fundamentals

Oct. 15, 2008
Radio-fRequency (Rf) engineeRs often cite designing RF emitters, such as RF/microwave antennas, as major technical challenges. This issue seems to stem from a lack of clear understanding of RF transmitting antennas. To alleviate this problem, ...

Radio-fRequency (Rf) engineeRs often cite designing RF emitters, such as RF/microwave antennas, as major technical challenges. This issue seems to stem from a lack of clear understanding of RF transmitting antennas. To alleviate this problem, Instruments For Industry (IFI) has released "Application Note 105: RF Antennas and Related Formulas." This note explains some of the more standard antenna terms. It also delves into the basic math that is required to calculate the RF field level with a given RF input-power signal.

The five-page document opens with a glossary of standard antenna terms. For example, free space is a location at which an antenna can operate without any external physical effects that would alter its performance. A signal's wavelength is the physical length of that signal in free space. Wavelength is measured as a unit of distanceusually in meters at lower frequencies and millimeters at microwave frequencies. The other terms defined in the application note include: radiator, radiation, near- and far-field radiation, polarization, bandwidth, gain, radiation pattern, and phase center.

The application note emphasizes that antenna gain is probably the least-understood and yet most important antenna characteristic. Gain is a relative term that can be related linearly or logarithmically. Either way, it is referenced to an isotropic radiator. That radiator is an infinitely small, theoretical point source of radiation. The electromagnetic (EM) radiation from that point source expands outward in a uniform, spherical manner to infinity. If the radiation pattern is altered in any way from its spherical shape, the energy will be concentratedthereby producing apparent gain.

The document goes on to provide three related field-strength formulas: field strength, field measurement units, and antenna-gain conversion. It then provides field-strength examples at both 1 and 3 meters. By covering these various sections, this application note provides a solid foundation for RF engineers who are unfamiliar with antenna fundamentals.

Instruments For Industry; 903 South Second St., Ronkonkoma, NY 11779; (631) 467-8400; internet: www.ifi.com.

About the Author

Nancy Friedrich | RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense, Keysight Technologies

Nancy Friedrich is RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense at Keysight Technologies. Nancy Friedrich started a career in engineering media about two decades ago with a stint editing copy and writing news for Electronic Design. A few years later, she began writing full time as technology editor at Wireless Systems Design. In 2005, Nancy was named editor-in-chief of Microwaves & RF, a position she held (along with other positions as group content head) until 2018. Nancy then moved to a position at UBM, where she was editor-in-chief of Design News and content director for tradeshows including DesignCon, ESC, and the Smart Manufacturing shows.

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