A. B. Borzov – Dr.Sc. (Eng.), Professor, Head of Department,

Bauman Moscow State Technical University

E-mail: wave@sm.bmstu.ru

E. A. Bocharova – Student,

Bauman Moscow State Technical University

E-mail: katyaa.bocharovaa@gmail.com

K. P. Likhoedenko – Dr.Sc. (Eng.), Professor,

Bauman Moscow State Technical University

G. M. Seregin – Ph.D. (Eng.), Associate Professor,

Bauman Moscow State Technical University

E-mail: cm5.seregin@gmail.com

V. B. Suchkov – Dr.Sc. (Eng.), Professor,

Bauman Moscow State Technical University

E-mail: vbsuchkov@yandex.ru

The article deals with the technology of manufacturing of a small-sized ultra-wideband (UWB) horn antenna in the printed version for near-field location systems. The technology is the use of printed circuit boards with surface and end metallization as components of the horn antenna, which significantly reduces the cost and weight of the antenna system.

All faces of the horn antenna were made by PCB-printing technology from FR4 material with end metallization and finish coating with immersion silver. Using Altium Designer package the process files were prepared to send to production. After obtaining all the assembly units, to ensure the accuracy of the dimensions during soldering, two conductors were made: one that completely repeats the shape of the antenna, for assembling the horn and waveguide parts, and the second for positioning the band-forming structural elements during installation.

The basic expressions for calculating the overall dimensions of the waveguide and aperture and expressions for calculating the parameters of the band-forming structural elements (internal edges) have been given. Based on the results of the calculations, a 3Dmodel of the horn antenna has been created, which was further modified to meet the requirements: VSWR level < 2 in the range from 1,6 GHz to 4 GHz and small weight and size characteristics.

Step-by-step modeling of the antenna in the printed version intended for placement on the unmanned aerial vehicle of quadrocopter type has been considered. Models without and with carrying out of a design of a power supply chain out of limits of band-forming structural elements (internal edges) have been considered. It has been shown that in the case of placing the antenna system power chain design outside the internal edges, it is possible to reduce their thickness, and, consequently, to reduce the weight of the antenna.

Numerical simulation of the antenna has been carried out for the frequency range of 1,6 – 4 GHz in the package of electrodynamic modeling Altair FEKO, which uses the method of moments. The calculations have been carried out taking into account the power supply of the antenna system through a coaxial connector of type SMA. As a part of the article, a small-sized ultra-wideband horn antenna designed for installation on an unmanned aerial vehicle of quadrocopter type has been designed and simulated.

The optimal design of the antenna on the basis of PCB manufacturing technology has been synthesized for the desired level of VSWR and weight and size characteristics.

In this article, comparison of existing analogues on the market and the developed antenna has been presented. It has been found that the developed model has significantly smaller dimensions and weight. It has been also revealed that the developed model is well matched in the range from 1,6 GHz to 4 GHz (VSWR varies in the range from 1,11 to 1,98).

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