Fractal-like Log-periodic Ultra-wideband Antennas

WaveBand Corporation (WaveBand) proposes to design and develop for communications applications a new type of ultra-wideband antenna system operating within the frequency range of 20 MHz to 4 GHz. The requirements of both wideband and high-power operationwill be satisfied with two modified fractal-like log-periodic antennas integrated into a single system.We expect the antenna to be of excellent radiation efficiency (so it can be used for both transmitting and receiving), of reduced size, thus capable of being mounted on a vehicle, extremely light-weight and compact, easy to manufacture, therefore low incost.The proposed antenna system will provide a perfect match to communications equipment mounted on a movable platform. Since the required frequency range is extremely broad, a system of two antennas, similar in structure but different in size, operating,respectively, in the low- and high-frequency portions of the range, will be considered as a possible solution. Due to the fact that the radiating elements will be based on self-similar (fractal-like) structures, the size of the antenna can be greatlyreduced. Moreover, because the proposed antenna system involves a metal film deposited on a thin dielectric substrate, it can be folded in half, providing for easy storage and deployment. Low cost reduced-size antennas have a large number of civilian and dual-use applications in the realm of RF and microwave antennas, devices, and systems for communications and signal collection needed in the broadband communications market.