Investigation of electrically small antennas designed for directive radiation from transient signaling

Electrically small antennas are a useful subset of antennas because of their small physical size; however, they are inherently limited in their performance because of the relation between electrical size and bandwidth. Many authors have recently sought to improve the performance of electrically small antennas by introducing nonlinear or time-varying components, using transient signaling, or increasing the directivity of the antenna. This work explores an antenna system that leverages the inherent narrowband nature of an electrically small antenna to achieve directive radiation from the transient ringing of the antenna system. This novel antenna is first explored through simulation. Next, a circuit model for predicting the operating frequency of this antenna is developed. Several versions of this antenna are then manufactured and characterized. Finally, a method for characterizing the transient behavior of an antenna is described and used to demonstrate the directive transient radiation of this antenna. This dissertation demonstrates the design of an antenna shown to have directive radiation with both continuous and transient excitations and methods for characterizing that radiation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Mitchell, David S

Contributors dc:contributor

• Bernhard, Jennifer T
• Schutt-Aine, Jose E
• Makela, Jonathan J
• Kolb, Paul

• Antennas
• electrically small antennas
• directivity
• transient antennas

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 David Mitchell

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129665

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F129665