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 |
|---|---|
| Slotted Waveguide | In a slotted waveguide antenna, slots are specifically cut into the walls of a waveguide - a special type of structure designed to guide electromagnetic waves from one point to another. The size, shape, and position of these slots can be carefully ... |
| Turnstile | A type of antenna that consists of two identical dipole antennas mounted at right angles to each other and fed in phase quadrature - meaning their signals are 90 degrees out of phase with each other. The combination of the orthogonal positioning and ... |
| Vee Dipole | A variation of the standard dipole antenna in which the two dipole arms are spread apart to form a 'V' shape. This design modification can influence the antenna's impedance, gain, and radiation pattern. Specifically, the Vee dipole often exhibits a ... |
| Vivaldi | A specific type of planar antenna known for its characteristic shape, often likened to the flared bell of a trumpet or the curves of a violin, hence its name (after the Italian composer, Vivaldi). It's a type of endfire antenna, meaning it radiates ... |
| Whip | A type of antenna consisting of a straight, flexible rod or 'whip' made of conductive material. Often vertically oriented and mounted on a ground plane, whip antennas can function as monopoles, operating at quarter-wave, half-wave, or full-wave ... |
| Yagi | A type of directional antenna that consists of a driven element (typically a dipole), accompanied by additional 'parasitic elements' including one or more 'directors' and a 'reflector'. These parasitic elements, despite not being directly connected ... |
| Dish Reflector | The Dish Reflector antenna embodies a design that utilises a parabolic reflector, a curved surface with a cross-sectional shape of a parabola, to direct the radio waves. The primary function of this design is to collect and focus electromagnetic ... |
| Planar Microstrip | Planar Microstrip antenna design represents a type of microstrip antenna that is positioned orthogonally to a ground plane. This design is frequently utilised in Fin and Stud mounted antennas that are very commonly used in metering and vending ... |