Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have devised a novel method for optimizing the performance of receivers with electrically small antennas, thereby enabling high sensitivity reception over a broad range of frequencies.
Background:
Electrically small antennas (ESAs) have broad commercial significance as they are widely used in various fields such as wireless communication, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, and medical technologies. The small size of these antennas makes them attractive for portable devices and integration into small form-factor products. The growing demand for wireless communication, the increasing number of connected devices, and the rising adoption of Internet of Things devices are driving market growth. However, applications of electrically small antennas have several challenges, including low radiation efficiency, low input impedance, and narrow bandwidths. Attaining the ideal impedance matching and resonant matching is highly dependent on the operating frequency and can be sensitive to changes in the antenna's environment or loading conditions, which limits the flexibility and adaptability of the antenna. There remains an unmet need for an innovative method to improve the sensitivity of weak signals from electrically small antennas while maintaining a broad range of frequencies.
Innovation:
Professor Yuanxun Wang and his team have developed an innovative approach to enhance the performance of a receiver with an electrically small antenna that allows for high sensitivity reception over a broad range of frequencies. The proposed invention employs parametric amplification, a fine-tuning technique for antenna design, to optimize the performance of the receiver with an electrically small antenna. This enables it to detect extremely weak signals with high sensitivity and low noise (< 3 dB) over a broad range of frequencies without relying on magnetic materials and with minimal power consumption. This unique approach is not frequency-dependent and allows for a compact form factor. Furthermore, with the aid of advanced electronics and integrated circuit technology, this novel approach can achieve the desired broadband low noise performance at high frequency (HF), very-high frequency (VHF), and even ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands.
Potential Applications:
• Communication purposes in various industries:
• Aviation
• Underground and underwater communication
• Wireless communication
• Radar systems for unmanned vehicles
• Medical imaging/tracking devices
• Portable consumer electronics
Advantages:
• Desired broadband; almost no frequency dependence
• Low noise performance
• High sensitivity
• Low power consumption
• Compact
• Use of magnetic material is not required
Development to Date:
Estimated date of public disclosure: June/23/2022. (I do not find a development-to-date in the IR)
Related Papers:
K. Q. T. Luong, W. Gu, F. Fereidoony, L. Yeung, Z. Yao and Y. E. Wang, "Radio Frequency Precession Modulation-Based Magnetic Field Sensors," in IEEE Access, vol. 10, pp. 3756-3765, 2022
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2022-280
Lead Inventor:
Prof. Yuanxun Wang.