| dc.description.abstract | Today's warfighter relies on extensive wireless technology to stay connected to allied forces and the battle theater. Communication equipment, IFF (identification friend-or-foe) identifiers, global positioning systems, jammers, and targeting systems are only a few of these applications. Often, each member of a unit will be required to carry many of these systems on their body during dismounted operations. As the number of required systems increases, so does their overall weight. One of the largest parts of these pieces of equipment is the antenna. SINCGARS, the workhorse of the US military's dismounted long distance communications, operates in 25 kHz channels in the VHF band (30-87.975 Mhz). This corresponds to wavelengths of roughly 3.5 - 10 meters. Common antennas operate with at least one dimension which is roughly half a wavelength. These dimensions can be reduced with various tradeoffs. A form factor of this size adds unnecessary weight and strain to the warfighter. While patch antenna are commonly used conformal antennas, their dimensions are roughly half a guided wavelength in width and length. Along with their bulky size, patch antennas are susceptible to their nearby environments and have constraints on surfaces upon which they can be placed. An electrically small, placement-insensitive antenna is introduced in this work. Proper feeding of this antenna requires a sizable RF choke be placed in-line orthogonally to the antenna's plane. This feeding method compromises the conformality of the antenna, as well as significantly increasing the weight and dimensions of the package. This work will present two novel feeding methods for this antenna in order to reduce package size, weight, and to ensure it remains conformal. | en_US |
