Antennas are fundamental to RF communications, serving as the bridge between electronic circuits and open space. Over the decades, various antenna designs have been developed to meet the needs of specific applications with different RF requirements, such as frequency range, directionality, gain, and physical constraints.

These designs range from basic dipoles and monopoles to complex phased arrays and microstrip patches. Each design has its own set of advantages tailored to specific applications, whether in satellite communications, broadcasting, or handheld devices. The below table offers a closer look at different antenna configurations, detailing their characteristics and applications. Follow each link to learn more about each design.

Types of Antenna Designs

Design Definition
Fin

A type of antenna commonly identified by its distinctive 'fin' or 'shark-fin' shape, designed for low aerodynamic drag. Typically situated on top of modern car roofs, fin antennas are designed to withstand high-speed travel without significant wind ...

Grid Reflector

A specific variation of a parabolic antenna characterised by its grid-like reflective surface. Unlike a Dish Reflector antenna that has a solid parabolic surface, a grid reflector antenna uses a series of intersecting conductive elements, or 'grid' ...

Helical

A type of antenna characterised by its helix or spring-like shape, typically composed of a wire wound in the form of a screw thread. By adjusting the diameter, pitch, and number of turns of the helix, the antenna can be designed to operate ...

Hinged Terminal

A variety of monopole or dipole antenna that features an integrated hinging mechanism within its radome, facilitating the adjustment of the antenna's physical orientation. Often directly mounted to the back of devices like Wi-Fi or cellular modems - ...

Horn

An antenna design that features a waveguide section where the cross-sectional area gradually expands towards an open end, known as the aperture. This 'horn-like' shape helps to direct the radiated radio waves in a specific direction, enhancing the ...

Inverted-F (IFA)

A type of PCB-mounted antenna that is essentially a variation of the common half-wave dipole antenna, but with one arm folded over to form an 'inverted-F' shape. This unique configuration provides compactness while maintaining good radiation ...

Log Periodic Dipole Array

A type of directional, wideband antenna that consists of a series of dipole elements of varying lengths, arranged in such a way that the size and spacing of the elements increase logarithmically along the antenna boom. This unique design allows the ...

Luneburg Lens

An advanced lens antenna design named for its shape, which resembles a spherical lens, and for its inventor, Rudolf Luneburg. The unique property of a Luneburg Lens is its radially varying index of refraction. This means that the lens's ability to ...

Microstrip Patch

A type of antenna formed by depositing a thin metallic patch on a dielectric substrate, which is then mounted on a larger ground plane. The patch, which is typically in a geometric shape like a square, rectangle, or circle, radiates in response to ...

Monocone

A type of antenna that combines elements of a monopole and a conical antenna, leading to its name, 'monocone'. It typically consists of a vertical monopole antenna situated centrally above a conical ground plane. This design results in an ...

Monopole

A simple yet effective type of antenna that consists of a single, straight conducting rod or wire, typically mounted perpendicularly over a ground plane. The rod or wire radiates radio frequency energy in response to the applied current, generating ...

Panel / Sector

A type of antenna commonly used in cellular base stations to provide directional coverage. From the outside, panel antennas are recognisable by their flat, rectangular shape, but internally they consist of a complex arrangement of multiple antenna ...

Patch Array

A type of antenna that comprises an array or series of patch antennas, typically microstrip or printed patches, arranged on a common substrate or platform. Each individual patch antenna functions as a radiating element, and when used in an array, the ...

Side Mount Dipole

A variation of the standard dipole antenna designed for side mounting, typically on structures such as communication towers or building exteriors. It consists of two conductive elements, known as 'dipoles', extending in opposite directions from the ...

Slot

A type of antenna that utilises a slot or gap cut into a conducting surface to radiate electromagnetic waves. The slot acts as the radiating element, functioning as an inverted version of a dipole antenna - where a dipole has two rods separated by a ...