SBIR-STTR Award

For this Phase I program, Spectra Research will leverage its recent accomplishments in advanced antenna designs (and those of its research partner GTRI) to investigate the application of fragmented aperture and fragmented volume technologies in concert with metamaterial based EBG substrates to develop a reconfigurable broadband (UHF to L-band) antenna. The work will take advantage of current FDTD algorithms and broad experience in EBG materials. Innovative approaches that improve overall antenna performance while minimizing antenna profile are desired solutions for all volumetrically restricted platforms. The Spectra Research team proposes an innovative approach to accomplishing the program objectives by employing advances in fragmented aperture antenna designs, and metamaterials EBG research, in concert with the extensive Spectra Research capability in designing specialized antennas, to develop solutions for a unique UHF through L-band common aperture, reconfigurable antenna. Both Cartesian and cylindrical FDTD simulations will provide a set of design rules that then may be used to modify analytical approximations.

Benefit:
The proposed Phase II effort is an important step towards continued commercialization of broadband communication and ESM antennas for military and civilian use. There is a significant civilian market for low cost communication antennas, particularly for mobile satellite communications applications. There is a clear market pull for advanced communication antennas for both military electronics and the commercial broadband wireless and satellite communications arena. The key features offered by fragmented aperture and fragmented volume antennas are extremely low cost and versatility over a wide range of frequencies by virtue of the wide tunability 0x9D of the devices. We are confident that this metamaterial reconfigurable common aperture antenna project can help achieve an instant market through numerous applications in the Military and Homeland Security markets.

Keywords:
reconfigurable, reconfigurable, ultra broadband, Fragmented Volumes, Compact Antennas, Fragmented Apertures, meta-materials

The proliferation of antennas for communications, radar, and ESM roles on the modern military platform places greater demand for available surface area. A basic problem arises from the situation that as additional antennas are incorporated into platforms, there is an increasing issue with parasitic coupling and electromagnetic interference (EMI) between radiating and receiving structures. During the Phase II activity, Spectra Research will demonstrate its advanced computational tools and design methodologies for optimizing performance for ultra broadband antennas to alleviate many of these issues. The Spectra Research suite of EM tools allows for the exploitation of the advantages associated with custom materials such as metamaterials, electronic bandgap (EBG) structures, and artificial dielectrics/magnetics. The primary objective of this program will be to develop a reduced footprint, 30-3000 MHz antenna. In addition we will demonstrate antenna constructs incorporating advanced materials to reduce EMI, coupling, and antenna size while increasing radiation efficiency in a common aperture structure. For this Phase II program, Spectra Research will leverage its recent accomplishments in advanced antenna designs in the application of fragmented aperture and fragmented volume technologies. The work will exploit the research teams FDTD algorithms and broad experience in advanced materials.

Benefit:
The proposed Phase II effort is an important step towards continued commercialization of broadband communication and ESM antennas for military and civilian use. There is a significant civilian market for low cost communication antennas, particularly for mobile satellite communications applications. There is a clear market pull for advanced communication antennas for both military electronics and the commercial broadband wireless and satellite communications arena. The key features offered by fragmented aperture and fragmented volume antennas are extremely low cost and versatility over a wide range of frequencies by virtue of the wide tunability 0x9D of the devices. We are confident that this metamaterial reconfigurable common aperture antenna project can help achieve an instant market through numerous applications in the Military and Homeland Security markets.

Keywords:
Fragmented Apertures, Compact Antennas, reconfigurable, Fragmented Volumes, meta-materials, ultra broadband