A New Type of Conformal Antenna Using Magnetic Flux Channels

Under SBIR-funded contracts [1 & 2], researchers at JEM Engineering and Arizona State University have demonstrated the critical components of a new class of physically small antenna that utilizes a magneto-dielectric composite material having a high magnetic flux conductivity [3]. The magnetic material is placed into flux channels which are made from a metallo-dielectric substrate. The substrate can be placed directly onto a conducting platform skin and its thickness is on the order of one hundredth of a wavelength or less. This paper introduces a novel realization of such a flux channel antenna by winding a thin composite tape about a mandrel [4]. The number of turns is potentially several thousand as the composite tape thickness is only a half mil (13 microns). Measured gains (IEEE) for a magnetic loop, which is equivalent to an electric monopole, of -5 to +4 dBiL were demonstrated from 225 - 600 MHz by a prototype antenna that measured 0.25" high by 16" diameter.