Tom Milligan

Miligan & Associates

8204 West Polk Place
Littleton, CO 80123
(303) 977-7268
(303) 977-8853 (Fax)
TmiiiiganQcompuserve.com(e-mail) Rene Meys

Editors introduction

This issues Antenna Designers Notebook contribution is
thanks to Rene Meys and Frederic Janssens. They have not onlly
devised a method of measuring balanced antennas, but remind us
what it means to have a balanced feed. To use a standard network
analyzer with its unbalanced port, they discuss balanced feedin,g,
and show us a method of measuring it, including how to construct
calibration standards.
In a second paper, I have included part of a report that I
wrote to discuss a method of measuring multiple-arm spiral anten-
nas. The two methods have similarities. Thanks, again, to Dr.
Meys, for reviewing this report, and making suggestions to
improve the presentation.

Rene Meys and Frederic Janssens

ULB CP165
Av. F. Roosevelt 50
B-1050 Brussels
Belgium
meys@elmitel.ulb,ac.be

1. Abstract

The input impedance of a balanced antenna is conventionally
measured by using a balun that forces opposite currents in each
part of the radiator. In this paper, balanced antennas are viewed as
two-ports, the S parameters of which are determined by standand
network-analyzer techniques. Simple formulas then lead to the dif-
ferential input impedance. The method is illustrated by measure:-
ments on a dipole antenna, which are compared to the results for
monopoles over a ground plane.
There is, however, a more subtle effect that cannot be cah-
brated out: if the currents in both parts of the antenna are not
exactly the same (due to stray capacitance, for example), the
antenna will not radiate, and its impedance will not be as expected.
In other words the accuracy of the results still relies, to some
extent, on how ideal the balun is, even if an impedance calibration
is performed. This may be a problem, especially when trying to
measure the antenna impedance over wide frequency bands.

2. Introduction 3. The balanced antenna as a two-port

0th parts of a balanced antenna should be driven by opposite 3.1 Principle

currents. On the other hand, most measurement instruments
are terminated with asymmetrical ports. When connecting a bal-
anced antenna to such a port, the currents will not be equal and
opposite, because some current can flow on the outside of the outer
conductor (Figure 1). The classical way to eliminate this problem
is to use a balun, for example, a transformer (Figure 2). Most of the
imperfections, introduced by the transformer, can be eliminated b y
performing an open, short, and load (OSL) calibration [l] at thle
antenna port.
Balanced antennas, such as, dipoles, loops, etc., present by
definition a symmetry plane (Figure 3). The fields generated by
these antennas are not disturbed if the symmetry plane is replaced
by a thin conductive sheet. Together with one side of the conduc-
tive sheet, each access port of the antenna may be viewed as the
inputs, j and 4 ,of a two-port (Figure 4). By measuring the two-
ports S parameters, it is possible to derive any impedance
parameter, in particular the differential input impedance.

62 IEEE ALrtennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6,December 1998
 t
I
r) A -c 1
A'
A'

%
A

Figure 3. Some examples of antennas with a symmetry plane.

a A'

t t
Figure 1. Asymmetrical test ports improperly drive symmetri-
P P
cal antennas.
Figure 4. The definition of the ports l j and p2 of the antenna
two-port.

3.2 Input impedance as a function of S parameters

Using the impedance matrix, the equations of a linear two-

port are

W If the two-port is driven by the current source in Figure 5 , the

L differential voltage, vd , is given by

vd = 5 - v2 = (211 -221 - z12 + Z22)I. (3)

For a balanced antenna, Equation (3) reduces, in practice, to

where

zi= Zll
= 222, 2, = 221 = 212.

Expressing the Z parameters as a function of the S parameters [2]

leads to

(1 - Sfl + Sil - 2S2,)

z, =2& (5)
(1-S1d2--s221 '

Figure 2. Using a transformer to drive a symmetrical antenna. where R,, is the reference impedance.

IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40,No. 6, December 1998 63


T
Figure 5. The schematic diagram for computing the differen-
tial antenna impedance.
Figure 6. The experimental setup.
2 and it does not seem that the cable losses were taken into account.
Figure 7. Details of the calibration standards: a.) The short and
the load; b.) The trough connection. 1 is dielectric material; :2
is metal; and 3 are two surface-mount 100 SZ resistors in par-
allel for the load, and two copper strips for the short.
64 IEEE AIJtennaS and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6,December 1998
4. Experimental setup
The experimental setup consists of
a. Two 50 Q microstrip lines, etched on conventional PCBs, and
mounted back-to-back (Figure 6);
b. A mast about 2 m high;
c. A vector network analyzer (VNA);
d. A set of special-purpose standards, made for calibrating the
microstrip ports (Figure 7);
e. A program that converts the S parameters to the antenna
impedance using Equation ( 5 ) .
Note: Of course, the measurements cannot be better than the
standards. From several tests, it is believed that the above devices
are acceptable up to at least 1 GHz.
5. Example of results
The method was tested on a classical cylindrical dipole
antenna, made of two brass rods, each 105 mm long and 3 mm in
diameter. The rods were connected to the microstrip lines using a
Teflon holder. This holder was installed during the open and isola-
tion steps of the calibration. Figure 8 shows the impedance of the
antenna versus frequency (curve 1). For comparison, several other
results are plotted on the same graph. Curve 2 is the impedance of
the equivalent monopole antenna, measured when mounted over a
circular ground plane 100 cm in diameter. The length of this
antenna was 106.5 mm (105 mm + 1.5 mm for the PCB thickness).
The measured impedance was multiplied by a factor of two. This
curve is in reasonable agreement with curve 1, except for some
irregularities due to the finite size of the ground plane. Curve 3
was obtained by interpolating the curves for l/d = 30 and l/d = 50
in reference [3], and by multiplying the values by two. Reactance
curve 3 is somewhat different from curves 1 and 2. At least a part
of this is probably due to geometrical differences at the antenna
base.
Larger differences appear between the resistance curves
above the parallel resonance. However, it should be noted that:
a. In any 50 SZ system, high-resistance measurements are sensitive
to errors;
b. The measurements in [4] were made by the slotted-line method,
6. Practical hint
When a signal is applied by the network analyzer to the ports
E; or PI, the effective radiating system is not only made up of
one-half of the antenna, but also the PCB ground plane, the metal-
lic part of the mast, the cables to the VNA, etc. Except for the fact
that the antenna is not measured in true empty space, no error is
introduced so far as all the elements in the setup remain exactly the
same during the whole measurement process (SI,,Szl, and,
eventually, S22, Slz).To the second order, however, the accuracy
is improved by avoiding taking differences between large quanti-
ties to get a small one. In practice, this is obtained by damping the
mast and cable resonances, through ferrite beads or absorbent
paint.
 3. R. C. Johnson and H. Jasik, Antenna Engineering Handbook,
, Second Edition, New York, McGraw-Hill, 1984, pp. 4-7,443.

4. G. H. Brown and 0. M. Woodward Jr., Experimentally Deter-

soot mined Impedance Characteristics of Cylindrical Antennas, Pro-

ceedings of the IRE, 33, April 1945, pp. 257-262.

Parameters of a Multiple-Arm
100 500 900
meqysncy lW1.z)
1300 1700
Spiral Antenna from Single-Arm
Figure Sa. The antenna resistance as a function of frequency Measurements
(curve 1). Curve 2 is the impedance of an equivalent monopole
antenna, 106.5 mm in length, multiplied by a factor of two,
measured when mounted over a circular ground plane 100 cm Tom Milligan
in diameter. Curve 3 was obtained by interpolating the curves Milligan & Associates, Inc.
for l / d = 30 and l/d = 50 in reference 131, and by multiplying 8204 West Polk Place
the values by two. Littleton, CO 80123
Tel: +1 (303) 977-7268
Fax: +1 (303) 977-8853
500
I E-mail: Tmilligan@compuserve.com

1. Abstract

Multiple-arm spiral antennas, generally with four or more

8 arms, can be fed in multiple modes that produce different antenna
g -1000 patterns. The patterns and S parameters of the antenna, operating in
d different modes, can be found by combining a weighted sum of
measurements made on individual arms. The frequency range of
-1500 good efficiency can be determined from S-parameter measure-
ments before the antenna pattems and gain are measured. Individ-
__._
100
~ ~
-500 900 1300 1700
ual arm measurements isolate construction problems that would be
masked by a feed network.
P L e q u e n ~ y IMHz)

Figure Sb. The antenna reactance as a function of frequency 2. Introduction [l,21

(curve 1). Curves 2 and 3 are the reactances for the equivalent
monopole antenna and as obtained from reference 131, per Fig-
ure Sa.
7. Conclusions
The input impedance of symmetrical antennas can be directly
measured using the procedures and equipment for standard two-
port S parameters. Neither a balun device, nor a large ground
plane, are required. Accordingly, the imperfections normally intro-
duced by both these elements are eliminated, and the bandwidth
can be arbitrarily large.
8. References
Before a spiral antenna is connected to a feed network, most
of its characteristics can be determined from measurements made
on single arms. These measurements greatly increase our knowl-
edge of the operation of the antenna, and can be used to improve it,
because problems are isolated. Figure 1 illustrates the face of an
eight-arm spiral antenna. Each arm of the antenna has been con-
nected to coax transmission lines, both on the inside and outside
ends. The wrap of the spiral in Figure 1 radiates right-hand circular
(RHC) polarization when fed from the center, and LHC polariza-
tion when fed from the outside. The antenna can radiate LHC
polarization for the inner feeds as the antenna ports, when the
feeding signals are improperly phased, or when signals reflect from
the outer ends of the spiral. A feed network splits the power into
the arms with proper phases and equal amplitudes to produce the
various modes of radiation. This feed network is sometimes
referred to as a beam-former, and provides a separate port for each
mode.

1. J. Fitzpatrick, Error Models for Systems Measurements,
Microwave Journal, 21, May 1978.
2. G. D. Vendelin, A. M. Pavis, H. L. Rohde, Microwave Circuit
Design using Linear and Nonlinear Techniques, New York, Wiley,
1990, p. 16.
This article shows how to combine measurements made on
individual arms of the spiral to find the pattems and impedance
properties, when it is operating in various modes. The analysis
considers the spiral antenna as an array, and uses the active pattem
of a single arm. We sum the pattems of the individual arms,
weighted by the mode coefficients, to find the pattem in a given

IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6,December 1998 65