Antennas

Department of Electromagnetic Field, Technická 2, Praha 6, 160 00
prof. Miloš Mazánek, mazanekm@fel.cvut.cz, +420 2 2435 2282

Who we are?

We are focused on design and development of broad range of antenna types for various purposes: wire, microstrip, fractal, horn, spiral, antennas for UWB, special feeders for reflector systems. Modern development of antennas and microwave circuits is not possible to perform without sophisticated design tools like EM field simulators. We use IE3D, AWR Microwave Office, CST Microwave Studio and FEKO. However, instead of dealing with commercial simulators ony, we have developed many codes in MATLAB for working with Characteristic Modes, stored energies in EM field and antenna's Q-factor. Antenna prototypes are manufactured either by ourselves or by third parties. We own our photo-etching technology lab, antenna anechoic chamber with standard measurement equipment (NSA) for frequency range 100 MHz - 40 GHz and in selected bands up to 110 GHz. In the field of EMC we are specialized in shielding efficiency of anechoic chambers, especially "small" chambers (with the size lower then 2m). Currently we expand our activities into the field of electromagnetic immunity measurement. We built low frequency anechoic chamber with feritte absorbers for the range 50 MHz up to 1 GHz. The team is also involved into research and development of RFID sensors, microwave radiometry and reflectors and their feeds.

mazanekMILOŠ MAZÁNEK
Prof. Mazánek was head of the department from 1997 till 2014. The department was organizing EuCAP 2012 in Prague under his guidance. He is main coordinator of R&D activities in the field of antennas and EMC.

hazdraPAVEL HAZDRA
He is interested in antenna theory, particularly small antennas, characteristic modes, Q factor and feeds for reflector antennas.

polivka_0.jpgMILAN POLÍVKA
He is interested in design and modeling of electrically small, multiband antennas for mobile communication systems and low-profile on-body RFID sensors.

korinek_0.jpgTOMÁŠ KOŘÍNEK
He is involved in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and design and precise measurement of antennas and microwave components.

svanda_0.jpgMILAN ŠVANDA
His main research activities are antennas operating in the close vicinity of the human body and RFID.

foto_capek_0.jpgMILOSLAV ČAPEK
His interests are electromagnetic theory, electrically small antennas, characteristic modes and Q-factor of antennas. He developed number of codes in MATLAB including various optimizers, MoM and energy calculations.

bartik_0.jpgHYNEK BÁRTÍK
He is involved in precise antenna, EMC and microwave measurement.

foto_hradecky.jpgZDENĚK HRADECKÝ
He is involved in extremelly wideband antennas, EMC and microwave measurement.

kabourekVÁCLAV KABOUREK
He is interested in antenna measurement, RCS measurement and UWB communication (microwave radar detection).

JAN KRAČEK
He is involved in wireless power transfer.

External co-workers

Petr Černý
He is interested in design of microwave systems (Emissive spectroscopy FTMW in microwave frequency band, CW radar sensor with DS-SS modulation, UWBN systems, etc.). He is our external co-worker.

Petr Piksa
He is interested in wideband and lens antennas, in design and optimisation of planar microwave circuits, in measurement in milimeter wave frequency band and in microwave spectroscopy. He is our external co-worker.

Alois Holub
He is involved in planar antennas and design in specialised software. He is our external co-worker.

Rastislav Galuščák
He design special radiators for reflector systems namely for EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) communication. He is our external co-worker.

Research directions

  • Development of MATLAB numerical codes for modeling and optimization of antennas

    • Generator of planar fractal structures IFSMaker
    • Characteristic mode analyzer for 3D RWG structures, Q-factor calculation, radiation efficiency, optimization of antenna parameters on the basis of characteristic modes and MoM
    • Evaluation of antenna noise temperature for low-noise space communication

  • Antennas and sensors

    • Design of printed (microstrip) antennas according to specific requirements (multiband, broadband, enhanced gain, etc.), optimization (genetic and evolutionary algorithms, PSO)
    • Study of novel antenna types (colinear arrays, fractal geometry antennas, electrically small antennas)
    • Low-profile RFID sensors working in complex environment
    • Broadband horn antennas with dual polarization ability H/V, RHC/LHC
    • Prime focus feeders with special low-noise and polarization properties, septum polarizers

  • Antenna measurements and EMC

    • Measurement of antenna parameters (NSA system) in our anechoic chamber
    • Shielding efficiency simulation and measurement
    • Electromagnetic immunity (EMI)

What it is good for?

  • Antenna is a key element of wireless communication chain serving as a transformer between guided and radiated waves. Simply, antenna is a special space-frequency filter necessary for efficient wireless transfer of electromagnetic energy. Immunity against unwanted electromagnetic interference is important aspect of this transfer.

Specific current research areas

Selected research projects and supporting agencies

  • International support - Network of Excelence in the frame of 6. Framework programme EU - Antenna Centre of Excelence (2006-07), Project COST IC0603 (2007-2010) - Antenna Systems & Sensors for Information Society Technologies (ASSIST), IC0803 (2008-2012) - RF/Microwave Communication Subsystems for Emerging Wireless Technologies (RFCSET), IC1102 (2012-2015) - (VISTA)
  • National grant agencies and government departments - Czech National Science Foundations GA ČR, Ministry of education (MSMT), Ministry of defence (MO), Ministry of Industry nad Trade, National Security Office (NBÚ)
  • Research center KVASTES - Centre for kvasioptical systems and terahertz spectroscopy
  • University local support - projects of Fund of University Development

Our partners

  • More then 50 university and company partners in Europe in the frame of COST actions
  • We are founding partner of European Association on Antennas and Propagation (EurAAP)
  • Local National Security Office
  • Radioengineering journal
  • European School of Antennas (ESoA)

Selected publications

Chapters in book

Papers in journals with impact factor

  • J. Havlíček, M. Švanda, M. Polívka, J. Macháč, J. Kraček: Chipless RFID Tag Based on Electrically Small Spiral Capacitively Loaded Dipole,IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 16, issue 1, pp. 3051 - 3054, 2017.
  • N. Carvalho, et all: Europe and the Future for WPT: European Contributions to Wireless Power Transfer Technology, IEEE Microwave Magazine, vol. 18, issue 4, pp. 56-87, 2017.
  • M. Švanda, M. Polívka, J. Havlíček, J. Macháč: Chipless RFID Tag with an Improved Magnitude and Robustness of RCS Response, Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, vol. 59, issue 2, pp. 488-492, 2017.
  • J. Macháč, M. Polívka, M. Švanda, J. Havlíček: Reducing Mutual Coupling in Chipless RFID Tags Composed of U-Folded Dipole Scatterers, Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, vol. 58, issue 11, pp. 2723-2725, 2016.
  • J. Havlíček, M. Švanda, J. Macháč, M. Polívka: Improvement of Reading Performance of Frequency Domain Chipless RFID Transponders, Radioengineering, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 1-11, 2016.
  • M. Polívka, J. Havlíček, M. Švanda, J. Macháč: Improvement in Robustness and Recognizability of RCS Response of U Shaped Strip-Based Chipless RFID Tags, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 15, pp.2000-2003, 2016.
  • Kraček J., Švanda M., Mazánek. M., Macháč J.: Implantable Semi-Active UHF RFID Tag with Inductive Wireless Power Transfer, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 15, issue 1, 2016.
  • Švanda M., Polívka M.: On-Body Semi-Electrically-Small Tag Antenna for UHF RFID Platform-Tolerant Applications, IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation, vol. 10, issue 6, pp. 631-637, 2016.
  • Švanda, M. - Polívka, M.: Matching Technique for an On-Body Low-Profile Coupled-Patches UHF RFID Tag and for Sensor Antennas.IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. 2015, vol. 63, no. 05, p. 2295-2301.
  • Polívka, M. - Švanda, M.: Stepped Impedance Coupled-Patches Tag Antenna for Platform-Tolerant UHF RFID Applications.IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. 2015, vol. 63, no. 9, p. 3791-3797.
  • Jelínek, L. - Čapek, M. - Hazdra, P. - Eichler, J.: An Analytical Evaluation of The Quality Factor Qz for Dominant Spherical Modes.IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation. 2015, vol. 9, no. 10, p. 1096-1103.
  • Dvořák, P. - Mazánek, M. - Zvánovec, S.: Fire Emissivity Detection by a Microwave Radiometer.IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters. 2015, vol. 12, no. 11, p. 2306-2310.
  • Čapek, M. - Jelínek, L. - Hazdra, P.: On the Functional Relation Between Quality Factor and Fractional Bandwidth.IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. 2015, vol. 63, no. 6, p. 2787-2790.
  • Čapek, M. - Eichler, J. - Hazdra, P.: Evaluating radiation efficiency from characteristic currents.IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation. 2015, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 10-15.
  • Švanda, M. - Polívka, M.: Small-Size Wearable High-Efficiency TAG Antenna for UHF RFID of People.International Journal of Antennas and Propagation. 2014, vol. 2014, no. 2014, art. no. 509768, p. 1-5.
  • Švanda, M. - Polívka, M.: Illustration of the Impedance Behaviour of Extremely Low Profile Coupled Shorted-Patches Antennas for UHF RFID of People.International Journal of Antennas and Propagation. 2014, vol. 2014, no. 2014, art. no. 712790, p. 1-10.
  • Hazdra, P. - Čapek, M. - Eichler, J. - Mazánek, M.: The Radiation Q-Factor of a Horizontal lambda/2 Dipole Above Ground Plane.IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters. 2014, vol. 13, art. no. 1, p. 1073-1075.
  • Eichler, J. - Hazdra, P. - Čapek, M.: Aspects of mesh generation for characteristic-mode analysis.IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine. 2014, vol. 56(3), no. 56(3), p. 172-183.
  • Čapek, M. - Jelínek, L. - Hazdra, P. - Eichler, J.: The Measurable Q Factor and Observable Energies of Radiating Structures.IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. 2014, vol. 62, no. 1, p. 311-318.
  • Piksa, P., Zvánovec, S., Černý, P.: Elliptic and Hyperbolic Dielectric Lens Antennas in mm-Waves. Radioengineering. 2011, vol. 20, no. 1, p. 270-275.
  • Hazdra, P., Čapek, M., Eichler, J.: Radiation Q-Factors of Thin-Wire Dipole Arrangements. IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters. 2011, vol. 10, p. 556-560.
  • Čapek, M., Hazdra, P., Hamouz, P., Mazánek, M.: Software Tools for Efficient Generation, Modeling and Optimisation of Fractal Radiating Structures. IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation. 2011, vol. 5, no. 8, p. 1002-1007.
  • Švanda, M., Polívka, M.: Horizontal Five-arm Folded Dipole over Metal Screening plane for UHF RFID of Dielectric Objects. Microwave and Optical Technology Letters. 2010, vol. 52, no. 10, p. 2291-2294.
  • Švanda, M., Polívka, M.: Two Novel Extremely Low-Profile Slot-Coupled Two-Element Patch Antennas for UHF RFID of People. Microwave and Optical Technology Letters. 2010, vol. 52, no. 2, p. 249-252.
  • Kraček, J., Mazánek, M.: Possibilities of Wireless Power Supply. International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies. 2010, vol. 2, no. 2, p. 153-157.
  • Polívka, M., Švanda, M., Hudec, P., Zvánovec, S.: UHF Radiofrequency Identification of People in Indoor and Open Areas. Trans. on Microwave Theory and Technique, Special Issue on Hardware and Integration Challenges of RFID's, 2009, vol. 57, no. 5, p. 1341-1347.
  • Holub, A., Polívka, M.: Vertically Meander-Folded, Shorted-Patch Antennas. Microwave and Optical Technology Letters. 2009, vol. 51, no. 12, p. 2938-2942. ISSN 0895-2477.
  • Švanda, M., Polívka, M.: Novel Dual-loop antenna Placed over Patch Array Surface for UHF RFID of Dielectric and Metallic Objects. Microwave and Optical Technology Letters. 2009, vol. 51, no. 3, p. 709-713.
  • Ferrero, F., Diallo, A., Luxey, C., Derat, B., Hamouz, P., et al.: Two-Element PIFA Array Structure for Polarization Diversity in UMTS Mobile Phones. Radioengineering. 2009, vol. 18, no. 4, p. 407-412.
  • Hazdra, P., Hamouz, P.: On the Modal Superposition Lying under the MoM Matrix Equations. Radioengineering. 2008, vol. 17, no. 3, p. 42-46.
  • Zvánovec, S., Piksa, P., Mazánek, M., Pechač, P.: A Study of Gas and Rain Propagation Effects at 48GHz for HAP Scenarios. EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking [online]. 2008, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 1-7. Internet: http://www.hindawi.com/GetArticle.aspx?doi=10.1155/2008/734216.
  • Hazdra, P., Mazánek, M., Čermák, J.: Wideband Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna. Radioengineering. 2007, vol. 16, no. 3, p. 37-41.
  • Černý, P., Mazánek, M.: Optimization of Transient Response Radiation of Printed Ultra Wideband Dipole Antennas (Using Particle Swarm Optimization Method). Radioengineering. 2007, vol. 16, no. 2, p. 9-14.
  • Kořínek, T., Piksa, P., Mazánek, M.: Wideband Measurement in a Small Shielded Box Using Equiangular Spiral Antennas. Radioengineering. 2006, vol. 15, no. 4, p. 34-37.
  • Piksa, P., Mazánek, M.: A Self-Complementary 1.2 to 40 GHz Spiral Antenna with Impedance Matching. Radioengineering. 2006, vol. 15, no. 3, p. 15-19.

Selected conference papers

(European Conference on Antennas and Propagation /EuCAP/, European Microwave Conference /EMC/, Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium /PIERS/)

  • conference papers HERE
Other teams
Responsible person: RNDr. Patrik Mottl, Ph.D.