Complete Design Procedure of a Size Constrained Printed Planar Log-periodic Dipole Antenna

Abstract

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and test of a printed planar log-periodic dipole antenna to be used as a standard gain antenna in simple, low frequency, anechoic chamber far-field antenna measurements. The design procedure is size constrained by the photolithographic printing circuit fabrication process. Maximum gain and an input reflection coefficient below −10 dB are envisaged for the frequency range 0.5-2.5 GHz. The antenna is printed on a low cost FR4 substrate, and a careful analysis, with optimization of all the antenna physical parameters namely: number, length, spacing and width of the dipoles, width of the feed line traces, feed line termination, feed balun, and substrate shape, is carried out. The good agreement obtained between numerical simulation and experimental results provides validation of the proposed antenna configuration and design procedure.