|
The antennas used in the realization of the communication systems for wireless networks need to deliver a high degree of performance over the entire range of conceivable environments. They also need to be designed to the specifications common to the rest of the system, namely low losses, small size and high performance. In other words, there is a need for small antennas to be used with small systems. Figure 1 shows an example of a Tyndall developed polyimide antenna
Figure 1. Polyimide-based Planar Monopole Antenna
(a) Antenna Simulation Model, (b) Fabricated Antenna, (c) Simulated Radiation Pattern
However as antennas shrink, they approach fundamental limits of performance. This is can be due to reductions in the capture area of the antenna, inextricable link between resonant frequency and wavelength, lower power operation, and other reasons. As the antennas are made smaller they require rigorously tuned systems to ensure that the power received from the capture area is transmitted as efficiently as possible to the transceiver. This may be achieved in using more integrated systems, to reduce the transmission line losses, as well as by ensuring that the antenna and the radio system are capable of coping with the harsh surroundings in which they may find themselves.
Contact: Brendan O’Flynn – brendan.oflynn@tyndall.ie | webpage
Selected Publications :
- O'Flynn., J Buckley, D. Laffey, J. Barton, S.C. O'Mathuna, "Simulation, Design, Development and Test of Antennas for Wireless Sensor Network Systems", Microelectronics International, Volume 24, Number 2, 2007, pp. 3-6
- Denis Laffey, Brendan O'Flynn and John Buckley, “The Development of Environmentally Tested Antennas for Wireless Sensor Networks”, Proc. Fourth Workshop on Embedded Networked Sensors (EmNets 2007), 25-26 June, 2007, Cork, Ireland
- John Buckley, Brendan O’Flynn, Sean Cian O’Mathuna, "Optimizing the RF Performance of a Wireless Node with Lumped-Element Balun/Matching Network", 2nd Workshop on Wireless Sensor Networks Research in Ireland (WiSen 2007), June 11, 2007, Dublin, Ireland
- O'Flynn, B., Buckley J., Laffey D., Barton J., O'Mathuna S.C., "Simulation, Design, Development and Test of Antennas for Wireless Sensor Network Systems”, Proc 30th International IMAPS Poland Conference, KraKow, Poland, 24 - 27 September 2006, pp 517-520 – Awarded Best Poster
|
