Thursday, May 13, 2010
Held by the Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AES), Kansas City Chapter

Program: Current Efforts in Antenna Structure

Speaker: Dean E. Oliver, Principal RF/Microwave Design Engineer

Antennas are an integral part of any wireless communications system from simple AM/FM radio, cordless and cellular telephone, simplex and duplex pager systems, even X-band Radar and IFF Transponder systems.

Simply stated, an antenna of any kind is merely a transducer whose function is to convert propagating electrical waves on transmission lines to propagating electromagnetic waves into the surrounding medium; hence air, water, vacuum space, human tissue, etc.

There are many different types of antennas for many varied applications but almost all of the antennas physical parameters are determined by its fundamental operating frequency. Given the wavelength is finite, so will too the actual length of the antenna.

Based on the antenna’s application for power, gain, radiation pattern, radiation efficiency, bandwidth, input impedance, polarization, physical size, and finally cost, the primary choice in any antenna design is that of the conductor for the radiating element. But should it always be metal? A solid? What about a liquid? A liquid metal? A liquid solution?

This invited presentation focuses on the current efforts in research and development to design, development, analyze, manufacture, and test various simple antenna structures from both liquid metals and those of highly ionized aqueous solutions like acids and bases.

Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 5800 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS 66211.
Ph: 913-345-2661.
Dir: 5800 College Blvd south of I-435. Exit Nall Ave (77B), right on Nall Ave (south) to College Blvd; right on College Blvd. Hotel is on right, one half block. Plenty of free parking.

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