Unique spatial eigenmodes for the spherical coordinate system are shown to be successfully synthesized by properly allocated combinations of current distributions along θ' and φ' on a spherical conformal array. The allocation ratios are analytically found in a closed form with a matrix that relates the expansion coefficients of the current to its radiated field. The coefficients are obtained by general Fourier expansion of the current and the mode expansion of the field, respectively. The validity of the obtained formulas is numerically confirmed, and important effects of the sphere radius and the degrees of the currents on the radiated fields are numerically explained. The formulas are used to design six current distributions that synthesize six unique eigenmodes. The accuracy of the synthesized fields is quantitatively investigated, and the accuracy is shown to be remarkably improved by more than 27dB with two additional kinds of current distributions.

A design method for an ultra-wideband bandpass filter (BPF) with four coupled lines has been developed. For demonstration purposes, 50 Ω-matched self-complementary antennas integrated with the ultra-wideband, differential-mode BPF with four coupled lines, a notch filter, and a low-pass filter (LPF) were prepared and tested. An optimized structure for a single-stage, broadside-coupled and edge-coupled four-lines BPF was shown to exhibit up to 170% fractional bandwidth and an impedance transformation ratio of 1.2 with little bandwidth reduction, both analytically and experimentally. Using the optimized structure, 6-stage BPFs were designed to transform the self-complementary antenna's constant input impedance (60πεe- 1/2(Ω)) to 50 Ω without degrading bandwidth. In addition, two types of filter variations--a LPF-embedded BPF and a notch filter-embedded BPF--were designed and fabricated. The measured insertion loss of both filter systems was less than 2.6 dB over the ultra-wideband (UWB) band from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz. The filter systems were embedded in the wideband self-complementary antennas to reject unnecessary radiation over the next pass band and 5-GHz wireless LAN band.

Miniaturized broadband antennas combining a fractal pattern and a self-complementary structure are demonstrated for UWB applications. Using four kinds of fractal patterns generated with an octagon initiator, similar to a self-complementary structure, we investigate the effect of the fractal pattern on broadband performance. The lower band-edge frequency of the broad bandwidth is decreased by the reduced constant input impedance, which is controlled by the vacant area size inside the fractal pattern. The reduced constant input impedance is shown to be produced by the extended current distribution flowing along the vacant areas. Given the results, miniaturized broadband antennas, impedance-matched to 50 Ω, are designed and fabricated. The measured return loss was better than 10 dB between 2.95 and 10.7 GHz with a size of 2712.5 mm. The lower band-edge frequency was reduced by 28% compared with the initiator.

This paper describes the characteristic of negative group delay (NGD) circuits for various configurations including first-order, distributed, and second-order RC circuit configurations. This study includes locus, magnitude, and phase characteristics of the NGD circuits. The simplest NGD circuit is available using first-order RC or RL configuration. As an example of distributed circuit configuration, it is verified that losses in a distributed line causes NGD characteristic at higher cut-off band of a coupled four-line bandpass filter. Also, novel wideband NGD circuits using second-order RC configuration, instead of conventional RLC configuration, are proposed. Adding a parallel resistor to a parallel-T filter enables NGD characteristic to it. Also, a Wien-Robinson bridge is modified to have NGD characteristic by controlling the voltage division ratio. They are fabricated on MMIC substrate, and their NGD characteristics are verified with measured results. They have larger insertion loss than multi-stage RLC NGD circuits, however they can realize second-order NGD characteristic without practical implementation of inductors.

A novel spatially modulated communication method, appropriate for wireless power transmission applications at 5.8GHz, is proposed using dual scatterers embedded with lumped elements. Analytical expression for the received wave in the spatial modulation is derived, and the characteristics are verified with simulation and measurement by varying the embedded capacitor. The maximum measured variation of the received voltage is more than 15dB and that of the phase is more than 270 degrees at 5.8GHz. The estimated amplitude modulation factor is more than 70%. Using the data obtained, we estimate the practical received waveforms modulated by the applied voltage to a varactor for the amplitude modulation scheme.

Microwave circuits embedded in a multi-layer resin PCB are demonstrated using low loss resin materials. Resin materials for microwave frequencies were compared with conventional FR-4 with respect to dielectric and conductor loss factors, which proved that losses could be reduced drastically with the low loss material and design optimizations. Baluns, switches and BPFs were designed and fabricated to estimate microwave performances. Measured and simulated insertion losses of the circuits for 2.5 GHz band, were 0.3 dB for a switch, 0.4 dB for a balun and 2.0 dB for a 3-stage Chebyshev BPF. An integration of a switch, a BPF and two baluns was successfully implemented in a multi-layer PCB. Insertion losses of the fabricated integrated circuit were less than 3 dB with 0.1 dB additional loss compared with a sum of individual circuit losses. With estimated results of temperature characteristics and reliability as well as low loss performances, microwave circuits in resin PCBs can be considered as a viable candidate for microwave equipments.

In this paper, we show that the orbital angular momentum (OAM) communication performance with a circular loop antenna array can be drastically improved by exploiting the port azimuth effect at the 5-GHz band. The received signal and interference powers are analytically derived with generalized Z-matrices and the perturbation method for short-range OAM communication. The resulting formulas show that the interference power can be drastically suppressed by selecting the proper combination of port azimuths. We also explain the mechanism behind the reduction in interference power. For the obtained port azimuth combination, the simulated and measured transmission isolations at 1cm are better than 24.0 and 23.6dB at 5.3GHz, respectively. Furthermore, to estimate performance in 2×2 MIMO communication, constellations for 64-QAM are estimated. Measured EVMs are less than 3% where signals are clearly discriminated without any signal processing. For long-range OAM communication using paraboloids, the optimum port azimuth combination is estimated by monitoring the current distribution. For the obtained combination of the port azimuths, simulated and measured transmission isolations at 125cm are better than 15.7 and 12.0dB at 5.3GHz, respectively. The measured isolation for short and long ranges are improved by 9.2 and 4.5dB, respectively, compared with the data for the combination of the identical port azimuth.

A frequency-reconfigurable dipole antenna, whose dual resonant frequencies are independently controlled, is introduced. The antenna's conductor consists of radiating conductors, lumped and distributed elements, and varactors. To design the antenna, current distribution, input impedance, and radiation power including higher-order modes, are analyzed for a narrow-angle sectorial antenna embedded with passive elements. To derive the formulae used, radiation power is analyzed in two ways: using Chu's equivalent circuit and the multipole expansion method. Numerical estimations of electrically small antennas show that dual-band antennas are feasible. The dual resonant frequencies are controlled with the embedded series and shunt inductors. A dual-band antenna is fabricated, and measured input impedances agree well with the calculated data. With the configuration, an electrically small 2.5-/5-GHz dual-band reconfig-urable antenna is designed and fabricated, where the reactance values for the series and shunt inductors are controlled with varactors, each connected in series to the inductors. Varying the voltages applied to the varactors varies the measured upper and lower resonant frequencies between 2.6 and 2.9GHz and between 5.1 and 5.3GHz, where the other resonant frequency is kept almost identical. Measured radiation patterns on the H-plane are almost omni-directional for both bands.

A digital spatial modulation method has been demonstrated for a wireless power transmission system at 5.8 GHz. Interference of electromagnetic waves, which are radiated from the dual scatterers, successfully realizes the spatial modulation. The spatial modulation is performed with a digital modulation manner by controlling capacitances embedded in one of the dual scatterers so that the interference of the scattered waves is appropriately changed. Switch MMICs based on p-HEMT technology was newly developed for the spatial modulation. Measured insertion losses of the switch MMIC are 1.0 dB and 14 dB for on and off states at 5.8 GHz, respectively. The isolation is more than 20 dB. With the switch MMIC, digital spatial modulation characteristics were experimentally demonstrated at 5.8 GHz. One-bit amplitude shift keying (ASK) for 1 MHz signal was realized at 5.8 GHz, and two levels were clearly discriminated. The modulation factor is 36%. In addition, 2-bit ASK signal was detected at 7.1 GHz.

A feed-point-selective, asymmetrically fed dipole antenna has been proposed for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) applications. By using PIN diode switches, an asymmetrical antenna feed is realized so as to control antenna directivities. The two basic requirements for MIMO antenna radiation patterns, namely, a decrease in overlap and control in direction, have been achieved. Additionally, to enhance directivities for the antenna with PIN diodes, a reflector has been introduced. The gain toward the reflector decreased by 2 dB, while the gain in the direction of the maximum gain increased by 2 dB. The developed antenna can correspond to a variable power angular spectrum (PAS).

A new concept of changing inductance values has been proposed, where a part of meander inductor is short circuited to reduce effective line length. Microwave characteristics of the short-circuited meander inductors and the meander inductor without the short circuit have been designed and fabricated on resin circuit boards. The reduction of inductance values by 40% has been successfully realized for the microwave frequency range from 0.5 GHz to 5 GHz for both designed and measured results. Using the proposed structure, low pass filters having two different cut-off frequencies have been designed and tested. Measured cut-off frequency changed 3.0 GHz to 4.2 GHz.