Introduction to Antennas 1: Single Antenna

The Introduction to Antennas course offers focus on the design, fabrication and measurement of microwave antennas. Save time and money by completing this course exclusively online without the expense of travel.

Prerequisite

Introductory course covering electromagnetism in electrical engineering (Maxwell’s equations, electric and magnetic fields, boundary conditions) or closely related course.

Course Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Articulate the principles of electromagnetic energy radiation in free space by antennas.
• Examine antenna fundamentals, antenna parameters, characteristics of various antenna types such as dipole antenna, monopole antenna, loop antenna, etc.
• Utilize commercial simulation software (HFSS) for antenna performance analysis.
• Design a single antenna using HFSS.
• Fabricate a single antenna to operate in microwave frequency range.
• Clarify measurements of reflection coefficient of the antenna and its radiation pattern.
• Clarify the process and function of the Network Analyzer.

Textbook

Warren L Stutzman and Gary A. Thiele, Antenna Theory and Design, 3rd edition, Wiley 1998.

Specific Topics (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 11)

1. Introduction of antennas concepts.
2. Review of transmission line theory.
3. Electromagnetic spectrum.
4. Antenna characteristics (radiation pattern, directivity, gain, impedance, bandwidth, and polarization).
5. EM fundamentals (quick review of Maxwell’s equations).
6. Ideal dipole antenna.
7. Antenna near and far field approximations.
8. Radiation pattern of ideal dipole and E-and H-planes.
9. Line source antenna of arbitrary length.
10. Ray approximation of antenna far field.
11. Radiation pattern of line source fed with uniform current.
12. Half wavelength dipole and monopole antennas.
13. Small loop antenna.
14. Microstrip patch antennas.
15. Visualization using HFSS package (recorded lab tutorial).
16. Final project to design specific microstrip antenna, fabrication and measurement.
17. Fabrication tutorial using milling machine (recorded lab tutorial).
18. Measurements tutorial using the Network Analyzer (recorded lab tutorial).

Course Certificate

In order to receive a certificate of completion for this course, you need to submit the required reports of Project 1, Project 2 and Final Project. In the meantime, the Teaching Assistant will help you in revising your projects to achieve satisfactory reports.

This course contains is an in-depth exploration and analysis of the basic antenna types: small dipoles, half wave dipoles, image theory, monopoles, and small loop antennas. These concepts are applied to the completion of realistic projects utilizing the commercial electromagnetic simulator package (HFSS) for antenna analysis and design. Emphasis will be on using simulation to visualize a variety of antenna radiation patterns, fabrication of antennas using a milling machine and measuring the reflection coefficient and radiation pattern of the designed antenna using the Network Analyzer.

Get one-on-one personal instruction from an expert and design your own antenna. This is the only online course that offers theory and software design training using the industry-leading High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) simulation package. The course is ideal for electrical engineers who want to learn about antennas to gain new expertise while having no prior knowledge of the subject. Complete the course at your own pace. For example, four hours each weekend for eight weeks or complete it all in just one week.

The cost includes an electronic copy of the antenna textbook, unlimited access to HFSS during the course period, videos of lectures and notes, videos of HFSS training, videos of fabrication using a milling machine, and measurements using a network analyzer and an anechoic chamber. Upon completion of the lectures, you will be assigned a project to design and test your own antenna. Then, an experienced U of A engineer will fabricate your designed antenna, measure its performance in our lab, and send you the data and the antenna to write your final project report.

Upon successful completion of each course, participants will receive a certificate of completion. Successful course completion also unlocks access to faculty expertise and antenna fabrication facilities at reduced rates for proof-of-concept work.

Required: B.S. in Electrical Engineering or B.S. in Physics

If you feel you may have the background or experience to enroll in these courses but do not have the required degree, please contact training@uark.edu to discuss options.