Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

Module III
Strip lines
Microstripline : Is a planar transmission line consisting of a conducting strip of
width W and thickness t placed over a dielectric substrate having height h. The
bottom surface is a conductor connected to ground.

Figure 3.1 (a) shows the schematic of microstripline (b) field distribution in
stripline.

(a)

(b)

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 1

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

In microstripline the wave propagates in quasi-transverse electric and magnetic

mode(TEM).In microstripline a part of wave propagates in dielectric substrate and
part of wave propagates in air. Hence the waves will attain different phase
velocities.

Advantages of Microstriplines
1) Provides one free and acessiable surface on which solid state devices can be
placed.

2)Easy fabrication

3)Compact size

4)Light weight

5)Cost effective.

Characteristics impedance of Microstripline depends on following parameters

• Thickness of dielectric substrate(h)

• Relative Permitivity of dielectric (εr)

• Width (W) of conducting strip

If conducting strip is a circular wire then characteristic impedance is given by

60 4h
Z0  ln forh  d
r d

For Narrow rectangular conductor

87  5.98h 
Z0  ln  for (h  0.8W )
 r  1.41  0.8W  t 
For wide rectangular conductor

h  377 h
Z0   for (W  h)
W  r w

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 2

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

Losses in Microstripline:
Attenuation of signal in microstripline depends on geometric factor, electrical
property of substrate and conductor, frequency.

There are three types of losses in microstripline

• Dielectric loss

• Ohmic loss

• Radiation loss

Dielectric loss/dielectric attenuation(αd)

q
 d  1.634 x103 dB / cm
 re

q is dielectric filling factor and is given by

 re  1
q
r 1
Higher dielectric constant results in more losses

Ohmic losses/conductor attenuation(αc)

Is due to conductor in groud plane and conducting strip.

It is given by 8.686 Rs
c  dB / cm
Z0 w
Where as Rs is surface skin resistance and is given by

1
Rs   / sq

Radiation loss

It depends upon substrate thickness, dielectric constant, and geometry.

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 3

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

2
 h 
Rr  240 2   F   re 
 0 
• It decreases when characteristic impedance increases

• For lower dielectric constant the radiation resistance is significant at at

higher impedance levels.

• For higher dielectric constant the radiation resistance is significant at at

lower impedance levels

Q factor of microstripline
Q factor of microstripline is high but it is limited by radiation losses of substrates
and low dielectric constant.

 h 
Qc  39.5   fGHz
 Rs 
1
Qd 
tan 
Types of Microstriplines
There are three types of microstriplines

• Parallel stripline

• Co planar stripline

• Shielded stripline

Parallel stripline
• Consist of two conducting strips of width w seperated by a didatance d over
the uniform dielectric material.

• Is equivalent to two wire transmission line.

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 4

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

The L,C,R and G are given as below

c d
L  H / m
W
 dW
C  F / m
d
 dW
G  / m
d
2  f c
R 
W c
The characteristic Impedance (Z0) of parallel stripline is given by

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 5

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

377d
Z0  forw  d
W  rd

• Losses in parallel stripline : Two types of losses are found i) Ohmic

loss(conductor attenuation ii) Dielectric loss(dielectric attenuation)

1 f  d
c 
d c

188 d
d  ( Np / m)
 rd

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 6

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

ANTENNA BASICS
 Antenna is a structure associated with region of transition between guided
wave to free space wave vice-versa.
 It converts electrons to photons and vice-versa.
 In antenna radiation is produced by accelerated charges.
 The basic equation of radiation is give

iL  Qv Am/S
i is time changing current in A/sec

L is length of current element (m)

Q charge, c

V time change of velocity which equals acceleration of charge,m/s

 Radiated power is proportional to iL or Qv.

 Consider an transmitting and receiving antenna formed by two wire
transmission line shown in fig 3.1(a) (b).connected to a transmitter and
receiver.
 The separation between the wire is a small fraction of wavelength and wave
propagates as guided TEM wave.
 The other end of transmission lines opens out as a tapered transition.
 As the separation between the line approaches one wavelength or more the
wave will radiate as free space wave.
 The opened transmission line region acts as [Link] currents on
transmission line flow out on the antenna and end there where as the
fields(E,H) will continue.
 The energy is carried by both E and H fields. The energy in H is
proportional to(i2 L/2) and (Cv2/2).

 Let consider that, the transmission line is open circuited (OC) and when
current arrives at open end , current becomes zero and hence magnetic field
vanishes and energy is carried only by electric fields (E).

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 7

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

 On other hand if transmission line is short circuited(SC) the voltage

becomes zeros where as current will be max and hence electric field
vanishes and energy is carried only by magnetic field(H).
 In both cases of open and short circuit there will be reflected waves. As
waves posses the momentum of inertia property they take some time to
change their direction during this time some energy is leaked in to the free
space and this process of leakage is called radiation.
 More opening at the end of transmission line, more time will be taken by the
wave to change the direction and hence more leakage of energy in free
space.
 To have max radiation the two wire transmission line should have a opening
of 180 deg.

Figure 3.1(a) transmitting antenna (b) receiving antenna

Transmitting antenna: is a region of transition from guided wave to free space

wave.

Receiving antenna: is region of transition from free space wave to guided wave.

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 8

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

Antenna: is a transition device or a transducer between guided wave to free space

wave or vice versa.

Patterns
Are three dimensional quatities representing variation of field or power as a

function of spherical coordinates ᶿ and Φ.

3 Dimensional field pattern:

 Max radiation is in Z direction with ᶿ`= 0 deg

 Pattern has main lobe in Z direction and side lobes in other directions.
 To completely specify the radiation pattern following patterns are required.

i) ᶿ component of electric field as a function of angles ᶿ and Φ.

ii) Φ component of electric field as a function of angles ᶿ and Φ.

iii) The phases of these fields as a function of angles ᶿ and Φ.

Important parameters of the pattern

1) Halfpower beam width/3 dB beamwidth (HPBW)

2) First nullbeam width (FNBW)

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 9
 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

Halfpower beam width/3 dB beamwidth (HPBW): The angular width at which

the power radiated is 3dB or at which field is o.707 times of max field.

First nullbeam width (FNBW): The angular width at which the power radiated is
zero.

Normalized field pattern:

Dividing electric field component by its max value Normalized field pattern can
be [Link] max value of Normalized field pattern is unity.

E  ,  
En  ,   
E  ,   max

Similarly Normalized power pattern is given in terms of the poynting vector

S  ,   as below.

S  ,  
Pn  ,   
Smax  ,  

Note: Poynting vector S  ,   is the power per unit area.

Where

E 2  ,    E 2  ,  
S  ,    w / m2
Z0
Z0= free space intrinsic impedance = 377Ω

Types of radiation Pattern in Polar coordinate system.

i) Field Pattern

ii) Power Pattern

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 10

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

(a) Field pattern (b) Power Patter

 The relation between Normalized field pattern En  ,   and Normalized

power pattern Pn  ,   is

Pn  ,    En 2  ,  

Beam Area/ (Beam solid angle) ΩA

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 11

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

The small incremental area dA on the sphere shown in above figure is given by

dA  r.d .[Link]  .d 
dA  r 2 .sin  .d .d 
Here dΩ is called solid angle subtended by area dA.

The area of strip extending around the sphere is given by

2.r.d .[Link] 
The area of sphere is given by

 2 r  sin  .d
2

 4 r 2
4π is solid angle of sphere in steradian (sr)

Note:

1 Radian=180/π degs

1Radian= 57.32 degs

1 steradian= 1(rad)2=(57.32 degs)2= 3286 sq deg.

The beam area or beam solid angle is given by

2 
A    Pn  ,  .sin  .d .d 
 0   0

A   Pn  ,  .d 
4

The beam area can also be defined as

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 12

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

 A   HP . HP

Here  HP is halfpower beam width in  direction and  HP is halfpower beam

width in  direction.

Radiation Intensity(U)

The power radiated from the antenna per unit solid angle is called radiation
intensity.

U  ,   S  ,  
Pn  ,    
U max  ,   Smax  ,  

Beam Area (εM):

The sum of main beam area(ΩM) and minor beam area (Ωm )gives the total beam
area(ΩA).

 A  M  m

Beam efficiency (εM):

Is ratio of main beam area to total beam area

M
M 
A

Stray Factor (εm):

Is ratio of minor beam area(Ωm ) to total beam area(ΩA).

m
m 
A

Note here that  M   m  1

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 13

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

Directivity(D):
The directivity of an antenna is ratio of max power density to its average value.

P  ,  max
D ---------------------(A)
P  ,  avg

The average power density P  ,  avg is defined as

2 
1
P  ,  avg    P  ,  .sin  .d .d 
4  0  0

1
P  ,  .d ( w / sr ) -------------------(B)
4 4


Substituting exp B in A for average power density P  ,  avg

P  ,  max
D
1
P  ,  .d ( w / sr )
4 4

1
=
1
 P  ,  .d ( w / sr
4 4
P  ,  max

4
=
 Pn  ,  .d 
4

4
D
A

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 14

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

Thus directivity is ratio of the area of sphere(4π) to total beam area ΩA

Larger the beam area lower the directivity and vice versa.

The directivity can also be calculated by halfpower beam width as

41253sq deg s
D
 HP
0
. 0HP

Gain(G)
The gain of antenna is measured by compairing max power density of the antenna
under test(AUT) with reference antenna of known gain such as short dipole.

Pmax  AUT 
G .G  refantenna 
Pmax  ref .ant 

The gain of antenna is always lesser than the Directivity because of the following
reasons

i) Due to presence of ohmic losses in antenna

ii) Due to mismatch in feeding the antenna.

Antenna Efficiency (k):

 The ratio of gain(G) to the directivity of antenna(D) is called Antenna
Efficiency (k)

Note: If antenna has 100% efficiency ie k=1 then gain and directivity will be
same and it can be found only in ideal antennas where ohmic losses will be
zero. But for all practical antennas gain will always be lesser than directivity.

Antenna Apertures:
 Consider a rectangular horn antenna placed in field of uniform plane waves.
Let S is the poynting vector of the waves. Let Ap is the physical aperture of
the antenna.
 The total power absorbed by the antenna is given as

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 15

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

E2
P Ap  SAp watts
Z
Aperture efficiency (εAP):
 Is the ratio of effective aperture to physical aperture.

Ae
 AP 
Ap

 For horn antenna and parabolic reflector antenna the aperture efficiency
ranges from 50%-80% where as for large dipole antenna it is up to 100%

Relation between directivity(D) and Effective Aperture Area(Ae)

Let consider an antenna with effective aperture Ae which radiates the power in
canonical form with beam area ΩA.

Let Ea is uniform field in the aperture area Ae.

The total power radiated by antenna is given by

Ea 2
P Ae (W) --------------------------(1)
Z0
Let Er is the uniform field at a distance r then the power radiated is given by

Er 2 2
P r A (w)--------------------------(2)
Z0
Equating 1 and 2 yeilds

 2  Ae  A -------------------------(3)

4
Since D=  -------------------------(4)
A
Substitute eq 3 in 4 for beam area ΩA
[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 16
 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

4 Ae
D
2
Effective Height(h):
Is the ratio of induced voltage V to the incident electric field (E).

V
h ( m)
E

(a) (b)

Figur 3.2 (a) dipole antenna with length l=λ/2 (b) dipole antenna with length
l=0.1λ.

Consider a dipole antenna with length l=λ/2 placed in uniform electric field E as
shown in figure 3.2(a).The current distribution will be sinusoidal with average
value of 2/π=[Link] fore its effective height will be he=0.64l

If the length of dipole is l=0.1λ, then current distribution will be [Link]

effective height of antenna is 0.5l.

Effective height can be obtained as below

I av
he  h p ----------------(m)
I0

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 17

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

Relation between directivity(D) and Effective Aperture Area(Ae)

Consider an antenna with radiation resistance Rr matched to its load.

The power delivered by the antenna is given as

V2 E 2h2
P 
4 Rr 4 Rr
Power delivered in terms of effective aperture Ae

P  SAe

Rr Ae
he  2
Z0

Parameters of Antenna illustrating their duality as circuit device

and space device

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 18

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

Radio Communication link/Friis Transmission Formulae

Let consider a transmitting antenna with aperture area Aet and receiving antenna
with aperture area Aer separated by a distance ‘ r’.Let us assume the transmitting
antenna is isotropic antenna.

Let Pt is power transmitted by the transmitting antenna.

The power per unit area available at receiving antenna is given by

PT
Sr  watts--------------------------(1)
4 r 2

If Transmitting antenna has a gain Gt then the power per unit area available at
receiving antenna is given by

PT
Sr  Gt watts----------------------(2)
4 r 2

The power collected by the receiving antenna is given by

PG
Pr  Sr Aer  t t
Aer -----------------------(3)
4 r 2
Where the gain of transmitting antenna Gt is given by

4 Aet
Gt  ------------------(4)
2
Substituting (4) in (3) yields

Pt Aer 4Aet
Pr 
4 r 2 2
Pr Aer . Aet
 2 2 is called friis transmission formulae.
Pt r .

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 19

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

Antenna Field zones/ Antenna Regions

The region around the antenna is divided in to two regions

i) Near Field/Fresnel Zone

ii) Far Field/Fraun- hofer Zone

Figure 3.2 Fields of antenna

2 L2
Here the radius of the circle is given by. R  ( m) .

Where L is max dimension of the antenna and λ is wavelength.

Comparison between near and far field

Sl No Near Field Far Field

1 Field components are transverse to Longitudinal component of electric
radial direction from the antenna. field is significant.
2 Power flow is directed radially Power flow is not entirely radial
outword.
3 Shape of field patter is independent Shape of field patter is dependent of
of distance. distance.

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 20

 Microwave Engineering& Antenna Theory(BEC701) 7 th SEM

When antenna is placed at the center of the sphere the poles of sphere act as
reflector and most of energy is reflected as shown in figure below where as at
equatorial region the waves are perpendicular to dipole and hence it results in
leakage of power.

*******************

[Link],Sapthagiri College of Engineering Page 21