N093-173 TITLE: Dielectric Resonator Antenna

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA290, Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program

OBJECTIVE: Design and develop a multimode dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) or antennas capable of operating in the frequency band of 30 MHz to 2 GHz that can cover some or all of the current VHF/UHF line-of-sight (LOS) communications, UHF satellite communications, L-band and GPS functions requirements that can be used on a Navy aircraft. Proposed concepts should demonstrate improvement in either size or RF performance over the current antennas.

DESCRIPTION: Currently, naval aircraft are covered with many antennas for VHF/UHF LOS communications, UHF satellite communications, L-band and GPS functions. Some of these antennas are of the blade type whose bandwidths are difficult to extend and whose form can impact the flight characteristics of the aircraft and create an ice accumulation hazard. Other, low profile, designs are usually cavity-backed requiring significant protrusion into the slipstream outside the aircraft or significant hull penetration inside the aircraft to accommodate the cavity whose bandwidths are also difficult to extend. There is a need to investigate alternate antenna technologies to ultimately condense some of these functions into a single structure to free up space for future additions, alleviate some of the interference between the antennas as well as reduce the size of existing antennas. Innovative concepts are sought that will demonstrate gain, pattern shape, polarization, power handling capabilities and VSWR potentially achievable by DRAs. Demonstration of all of these characteristics is not required although a successful proposal will incorporate as many as possible.

As a guide, the antenna requirements of the current antenna technology is given below:

VHF/UHF LOS communications:
Vertical polarization, omni-directional, transmit and receive, 30 Watts CW power handling, 50 Ohms impedance
30-88 MHz, -15 dBil (30 MHz), -5 dBil (88 MHz), 2.5:1 VSWR
118-174 MHz, -5 dBil average, 2.0:1 VSWR
225-512 MHz, 0 dBil average, 2.0:1 VSWR

UHF satellite communications:
Right Hand Circular polarization, hemi-spherical coverage, transmit and receive, 200 Watts CW power handling, 50 Ohms impedance
225-400 MHz, 5 dBic, 2.0:1 VSWR

L-Band:
Vertical polarization, omni-directional, transmit and receive, 50 Watts CW 4 kWatts peak power handling, 50 Ohms impedance
960-1220 MHz, 0 dBil average, 1.4:1 VSWR
1000-1100 MHz, 1.4:1 VSWR

GPS:
Right hand circular polarization, hemi-spherical coverage, receive only, 1.5:1 VSWR, 50 Ohms impedance
L1 (1563-1588 MHz), 4 dBic peak gain, > -3.0 dBic @ 80� off boresight
L2 (1215-1240 MHz), 4 dBic peak gain, > -3.0 dBic @ 80� off boresight

The design can be above the mold line or below. Primary constraints are weight and surface area consumed as weight allowance and surface area are always at a premium on any aircraft. It can be assumed that isolation will be handled by separate circuitry but each function should have a separate RF connector.

PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility of proposed DRA concept using either computer modeling and/or laboratory test with limited measured data.

PHASE II: Develop, fabricate and demonstrate prototype (lab model) DRA to design goals.

PHASE III: Transition developed antenna technology to fleet via airborne integration, operation, evaluation and production assuming sponsorship is secured from NAVAIR aircraft program.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Technology developed under this effort will have potential applications to unmanned air/surface/sea vehicles, multi-mission aircraft or any military aircraft or commercial aircraft where multiple antennas are used and space is limited.

REFERENCES:
1. J. L. Volakis (ed.), Antenna Engineering Handbook, 4th Ed., Chap. 17, A. A. Kishk and Y. M. M. Antar, "Dielectric Resonator Antennas", (New York: McGraw-Hill. 2007).

2. Y. Kobayashi and T. Tanaka, IEEE Trans Microwave Theory Tech., vol. MTT-28 (1980): 1077.

3. Y. Kobayashi and M. Miura, IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp. Dig. (1984): 184

4. K. M. Luk and K. W. Leung, Dielectric Resonator Antennas, J. R. James (ed.), (Baldock, Hertfordshire, UK: Research Studies Press Ltd., 2003).

5. A. Petosa, Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook, (Artech House, 2007).

KEYWORDS: Antenna; Wide-band antenna; Dielectric resonator; Communications; Navigation; Satellite

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between July 27 through August 23, 2009, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting August 24, 2009, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (09.3 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 09.3 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.