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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Antenna Design for Mobile Satellite Communications

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2016

Submitted on

Pages

106

Abstract

Dette projekt udvikler en antenne til mobil satellitkommunikation, der kan integreres i en modulær smartphone, med målet om at være et mere brugervenligt og håndterbart alternativ til eksisterende satellittelefoner. Antennen er opbygget som et array af små elementer, så radiosignalet kan rettes elektronisk (strålestyring) mod satellitten. For at styre designet blev der taget udgangspunkt i krav fra en valgt mobil satellitoperatør; disse fastlagde driftskrav og linkbudgetmål, som havde stor betydning for udformningen. Arbejdet blev udført i elektromagnetisk simuleringssoftware, begyndende med et enkelt antenneelement og derefter en lineær array og til sidst en plan array. Hver løsning havde sine fordele og ulemper, som præsenteres og diskuteres i projektet. I simulationerne opfyldte arrayet linkbudgetkravene for forstærkning (hvor godt antennen koncentrerer signalet) og aksialforhold (et mål for polarisationskvalitet). Ydelsen blev dog dårligere, når strålen blev styret væk fra den centrale retning.

This project designs an antenna for mobile satellite communication that can be integrated into a modular smartphone, aiming for a more user-friendly and manageable alternative to current satellite phones. The antenna is an array of small elements whose combined signal can be directed electronically (beam steering) toward the satellite. To guide the design, requirements from a chosen mobile satellite operator were used; these defined operating targets and link budget constraints that strongly shaped the antenna. The work was carried out in electromagnetic simulation software, starting with a single antenna element, then a linear array, and finally a planar array. Each configuration had advantages and drawbacks, which are presented and discussed throughout the project. In simulations, the array met the link budget requirements for gain (how strongly the antenna concentrates the signal) and axial ratio (a measure of polarization quality). However, performance worsened when the beam was steered away from the central direction.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]