Presented by:
Dr. Rod Waterhouse
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Abstract
Microstrip or printed antennas are being considered/used in a variety of communication systems due their many attractive features, including low profile and ease of integration with microwave and photonic devices. However, despite these advantages over conventionally styled antennas there are several shorting comings of the printed antenna such as its relatively small bandwidth and the excitation of surface waves. Over the past decade or so researchers throughout the world have focussed on means of alleviating these problematic characteristics with varying degrees of success. In this presentation, research conducted at RMIT University on improving the rf behavior of microstrip antennas will be described. In particular, looking at means of improving the impedance bandwidth, reducing the size of the printed conductor, efficiently integrating the antenna with MMIC and OEIC technologies, enhancing the scan performance of large arrays of microstrip patches and also the development of broadband millimeter-wave printed antennas will be presented.
Also in this seminar, several devices suitable for RF/photonic systems developed at RMIT University will be presented. These include broadband electro-optic LiNbO3 modulators and photonic True-Time-Delay devices for phased array applications. An example of a integrated photonic/microwave module for mobile communications at 1.9 GHz will also be presented.
The Speaker
Dr Rod Waterhouse received the degrees of BE (Hons), Meng. Sci. (Research) and PhD from the University of Queensland, Australia in 1987, 1990 and 1994, respectively. In 1994, he joined the Department of Communication and Electronic Engineering at the RMIT University, where he is currently a Senior Lecturer. His research interests include printed antennas, phased arrays, optically distributed wireless systems and photonic devices for microwave applications. He has published over 120 papers in these areas. In 2000 RMIT University became a member of the Australian Photonics Cooperative Research Centre of which he is a Key Researcher. Dr Waterhouse is the Chair of the IEEE Victorian MTTS/APS Chapter.