Date of Award:

8-2012

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Reyhan Baktur

Committee

Reyhan Baktur

Committee

Edmund Spencer

Committee

Jacob Gunther

Abstract

Small satellites have become important vehicles for space exploration. One of the challenges on these satellites is their limited surface area, which creates problems in allocating resources for devices such as antennas. Also, an effective satellite communication system often requires circularly polarized antennas. Therefore, integrating cross slot antennas around solar cells to form a multifunctional solar panel is one of the best solutions for small satellites. The cross geometry provides circular polarization and the slot configuration does not compete for any additional surface space. The main goal of this thesis was to design, fabricate, and test such type of slot antennas. Although a cross slot antennas have been designed the integrated with solar cells before, the previous study was limited in terms of the quality of the circular polarization as well as the effectiveness of the excitation method. This thesis work is aimed to address improve on all those limitations.

In order to accurately test the antenna, there needs an environment that mimics free space that allows an antenna understand to radiate into infinite unbounded pace. Such an environment can be achieved by designing an anechoic chamber, where most electromagnetic radiation from outside can be shielded, and radiation from an antenna inside can be fully absorbed. The second objective of this thesis work was to design and construct a fully shielded state-of-the-art anechoic chamber at Utah State University. The details such as material selection, assembly, and construction of accessories for the antenna testing system are documented in this thesis. The detailed correct antenna measurement method, as well as a number of antenna measurement results, is discussed and presented.

Checksum

d5765582aed725add52d59bec7bc3602

Comments

This work made publicly available electronically on July 31, 2012.

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