Focused Application Software for Design of Ferrite Patch Antennas

Currently, most antenna array designs are mechanically steered. However, as demand for higher performance antennas increases, an electronic replacement for the mechanical system becomes necessary. An alternative that may prove to be more cost effective is to use ferrite patch antennas as the elements in the array. The antenna's radiation characteristics are controlled by the direction and magnitude of the imposed magnetic fields that bias the ferrite. This is accomplished without requiring additional circuitry in the signal path. An initial study of this device is proposed. The advanced ferrite handling capability of Maxwell Eminence will be used to simulate the readiation characteristics of a ferrite patcch antenna. The possibility of using this finite element field simulation tool with its advanced absorbing boundary condition to simulate ferrite patch antennas will be studied. An advantage of this type of solver is the ability to analyze ferrites with non-uniform bias fields. The effect of such a non-uniform bias field will also be evaluated. It is hoped that the result of this investigation will be a better understanding of the potential uses of ferrite patch antennas.