DESIGN OF MINKOWSKI FRACTAL ANTENNA

Abstract

Communication between humans was first by sound through voice. With the desire for slightly more distance communication came, devices such as drums, then, visual methods such as signal flags and smoke signals were used. These optical communication devices, of course, utilized the light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. It has been only very recent in human history that the electromagnetic spectrum, outside the visible region, has been employed for communication, through the use of radio. One of humankind’s greatest natural resources is the electromagnetic spectrum and the antenna has been instrumental in harnessing this resource.. Nowadays wireless communications systems (GSM/UMTS/WIFI) require compact antennas which are small in size and also capable of operating at different bands. Fractal geometry antennas are studied in order to answer those requirements. Recent studies show that the fractal structures have their own specific characteristics that improve certain properties of antenna (when talking about low profile antennas). Fractal antenna is comprised of elements patterned after self-similar designs. Self-similarity of the fractal shape can be translated into its electromagnetic behaviour. Fractal antennas are very old in concept and very new in design for broadband applications. Many discontinuities in the structure aid in radiating higher frequencies. Both miniaturization and broadband coverage are the greatly achievable factors in this type. This thesis covers basically two aspects. First is the design of a square patch antenna radiating in L-band at around 1.32GHz and then using this square patch antenna as basic structure for developing first three order of Minkowski fractal antenna and which leads to the result that shows multiband characteristics of these fractal antennas radiating from L-band to S-band.