Learning objectives
At the end of the course the students will be able to:
− know the basic theory of electromagnetic propagation;
− understand the physical mechanisms of free microwave propagation;
− know the main microwave antennas;
− know and understand the most important microwave wireless systems;
− use and implement analysis and design tools of microwave antennas.
Prerequisites
Applied Electromagnetics
Course unit content
Maxwell’s equations
Boundary conditions
Antenna fundamental parameters
Numerical methods for electromagnetism
Field equivalence principle
Aperture antennas
Horn antennas
Patch antennas
Antennas for mobile devices
Smart antenna systems
Antenna technologies for 5G
Seminars could integrate the course programme
Full programme
Each class corresponds to 2 hours.
CLASS 1: Introduction to antennas and wireless systems
CLASS 2: Maxwell’s Equations, electrical properties of materials (conductors, dielectrics)
CLASS 3: Boundary conditions: fields at a general material interface, fields at a dielectric interface, field at the interface with perfect conductors (electric wall, magnetic wall)
CLASS 4: Radiation mechanism: single wire, two wires, dipole and transmission line
CLASS 5: Antenna fundamental parameters: radiation pattern, radiation power density, radiation intensity, directivity
CLASS 6: Antenna fundamental parameters: efficiency, gain, beam efficiency, bandwidth, input impedance
CLASS 7: Wave and antenna polarization
CLASS 8: Fundamental parameters of antennas in receiving mode
CLASS 9: Radiation integrals and auxiliary potential functions, dipole antennas
CLASS 10: Numerical simulation of a dipole antenna
CLASS 11: Field equivalence principle, rectangular aperture antennas
CLASS 12: Rectangular aperture antennas (ground plane, field distributions) and circular aperture antennas
CLASS 13: Numerical simulation of rectangular waveguides and aperture antennas
CLASS 14: E-plane sectoral horn, H-plane sectoral horn
CLASS 15: Pyramidal horn, conical horn
CLASS 16: Numerical simulation of horn antennas and waveguides
CLASS 17: Patch antennas: basic characteristics, feeding methods, methods of analysis
CLASS 18: Rectangular patch antennas: transmission-line model
CLASS 19: Rectangular patch antennas: cavity model
CLASS 20: Numerical simulation of patch antennas
CLASS 21: Antennas for mobile devices
CLASS 22: Numerical simulation of a mobile device antenna
CLASS 23: Smart antenna systems for mobile communications
CLASS 24: Antenna technologies for 5G wireless communications
Bibliography
C. A. Balanis, “Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design”, Wiley, 2016
D. M. Pozar, “Microwave engineering”, Wiley, 1998
Z. Zhang, “Antenna design for mobile devices”, Wiley, 2017
F. T. Ulaby, U. Ravaioli, “Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics”, 8th edition, Pearson, 2020
Scientific papers suggested during the lessons of the course
Teaching methods
The teaching activities include lessons carried out using multimedia presentations and images (38 hours). In addition, practice lessons (10 hours) are carried out using software for the analysis and the design of microwave antennas and devices.
Additional teaching material used during the lessons is uploaded to the Elly web site. The registration to the course is necessary to download the slides.
Students who are not attending to the course should periodically check the teaching material and the information provided by the professor on the Elly web site.
It should be noted that the teaching methods may be subject to change according to the actual health situation.
Further information about the lessons will be provided just before the beginning of the course.
Assessment methods and criteria
The learning assessment is made with an oral exam with questions and exercises on the topics developed during the lessons and the practice lessons, with the aim to verify the student knowledge and understanding of basic electromagnetic propagation and working principles of microwave antennas. The oral exam is evaluated in the range 0/30. The mark of the oral exam is communicated to the student at the end of the oral test.
The online registration to the exam is mandatory and it is possible until three days before the exam date.
Further information about the examination procedure will be given to the students during the lessons and made available on the Elly web-site of the course.
It should be noted that the learning assessment methods may be subject to change according to the actual health situation.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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