This paper proposes a new methodology to design optimal antennas for MIMO (Multi-Input Multi-Output) communication systems by using spherical mode expansion. Given spatial channel properties of a MIMO channel, such as the angular profile at both sides, the optimal MIMO antennas should provide the largest channel capacity with a constraint of the limited implementation space (volume). In designing a conventional MIMO antenna, first the antenna structure (current distribution) is determined, second antenna directivity is calculated based on the current distribution, and thirdly MIMO channel capacity is calculated by using given angular profiles and obtained antenna directivity. This process is repeated by adjusting the antenna structure until the performance satisfies a predefined threshold. To the contrary, this paper solves the optimization problem analytically and finally gives near optimal antenna structure (current distribution) without any greedy search. In the proposed process, first the optimal directivity of MIMO antennas is derived by applying spherical mode expansion to the angular profiles, and second a far-near field conversion is applied on the derived optimal directivity to achieve near optimal current distributions on a limited surface. The effectiveness of the proposed design methodology is validated via numerical calculation of MIMO channel capacity as in the conventional design method while giving near optimal current distribution with constraint of an antenna structure derived from proposed methodology.

An imbalance difference model has been developed to estimate the common-mode radiated emission of a PCB with an attached cable. This model, however, requires significant computation time for full-wave simulation, especially if the attached cable is long, even with a powerful computer configuration. To solve this problem, a method that approximates the imbalance difference model as an equivalent asymmetrical dipole antenna is proposed in this paper. The common-mode radiated emission can be predicted using a line integration of the common-mode current distribution which is directly estimated by the asymmetrical antenna model. Unlike existing methods, the proposed method avoids the circuit construction normally used to measure the common-mode current, and is still able to accurately predict the maximum common-mode radiation. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparing the predicted results with the 3D full-wave simulation and the measured data gathered in an anechoic chamber.

We propose that the current distribution along a dipole can be divided into a component proportional to the port current, a component proportional to the port voltage, and an antisymmetrical component. In this paper, we perform numerical computations to verify that the component proportional to the port voltage always lags the port voltage by 90°, and the ratio of its amplitude to that of the port voltage is not significantly affected by the arrangement of other dipoles located nearby or by circuits connected to the ports of the dipoles if the dipoles have lengths not exceeding one wavelength.

The problem of a finite monopole antenna driven by a coaxial cable is revisited. On the basis of a variable bound approach, the radiated field around a monopole antenna can be represented in terms of the discrete modal summation. This theoretical model allows us to avoid the difficulties experienced when dealing with integral equations having different wavenumber spectra and ensures a solution in a convergent series form so that it is numerically efficient. The behaviors of the input admittance and the current distribution to characterize the monopole antenna are shown for different coaxial-antenna geometries and also compared with other existing results.

Although larger scale integration enhances the practicability of superconducting Josephson circuits, several technical problems begin to emerge during its progress. One of the problems is the increase of current through a ground plane (ground current). Excess ground current produces additional magnetic field and reduces operation margins of the circuits, because superconducting Josephson devices are very sensitive to magnetic field. In this paper, we evaluate current distribution in a superconducting ground plane by means of both experiments and numerical calculation. We also verify two methods for suppressing the ground current. One is a slot structure in the ground plane, and the other is alignment of the current-extraction point. Suppression of the ground current is quantitatively evaluated.

Current distribution on a 2-layer PCB with lumped circuits is estimated by measuring the near electric field. In this method, the current estimation model is made without considering the electrical parameters of lumped circuits. Experimental results are demonstrated and compared with the numerical results, confirming the validity of this method.

This paper describes an estimation method for an antenna current distribution including the interaction between a cellular telephone antenna and a human body. In our experiments, current distributions on a half wavelength dipole antenna at 900 MHz are evaluated by measuring the magnetic field near the antenna, when a human head-sized phantom model is located near the dipole antenna. From the experiments, the antenna current around a feed point is confirmed to increase by 30% due to the interaction effect. This result shows that antennas of portable phones should be designed by considering the effect of a human presence for the development of the higher performance antenna, and our estimation method will contribute to optimizing the design of such antennas.

Terahertz radiation imaging has been employed to diagnose the supercurent and vortex distribution in high-Tc superconductive thin film strips. We observe them in the YBCO films patterned into the strip with and without ordered arrays of small antidots. Comparison with the theoretically expected distribution reveals that the present technique can provide a powerful tool for the noncontact, nondestructive, and free-space evaluation of the supercurrent and the vortex distribution with good quantitative agreement. The effect of the antidot formation in the strips is explained by the decrease of the effective critical current. The remanent state after removal of the relatively large magnetic field cannot be explained by the conventional model for the superconductive thin films, and the discrepancy is more notable in the antidot-formed area.

This paper describes a method for estimating current and voltage distributions by scanning with a probe. The method takes advantage of the phenomenon that the coupling between the current and the probe varies with the direction of the probe. The current and voltage are estimated by calculating the probe vector output for each of four directions. Both the current and voltage vector distributions can thus be estimated at the same time by using a single probe. The estimated distributions in a digital IC package and a microstrip line showed that this method produces reliable results. The simple structure of the probe should make it easy to reduce its size.

In the conventional antenna system for the handset, some gain degradation has been observed when an operator holds the handset. This is caused by the variation of the current on the conducting box used in the handset due to the body effect. This paper presents (1) design concept of antenna for the handset and (2) analysis of a newly proposed loop antenna system, which has the balance structure for the antenna feed to reduce the effect of currents on the conducting box. In order to confirm the effectiveness of using the balance-fed loop antenna, a simple model using a small loop antenna mounted on a ground plane is analyzed. The current distribution for the balance-fed loop antenna system is obtained calculatedly and also experimentally and is compared with that for the unbalance-fed loop antenna system. In a result, remarkable decrease in the current distribution on the ground plane for the case of the balance-fed antennas system is shown. Calculated results are in good agreement with measured results.

Loosely wound short-arm two-wire Archimedean spiral antennas are investigated. It is shown that good circularly polarized waves with axial ratio less than 2 dB are obtained when the outer circumference C of the spiral antenna is in the range of about 1. 3λ < C < 1. 5λ, where λ is the free-space wavelength. To improve the antenna characteristics further, spiral antennas combined with a parasitic loop are examined. It is clarified that the parasitic loop greatly contributes to the improvement of the axial ratio and power gain.

Backfire quadrifilar helical antennas combined with parasitic loops are investigated in detail, focusing on clarifying the function of parasitic loops. First, the basic property is examined for the case of one parasitic loop, and it is found that the loop behaves as a director when the circumferential length of the loop is nearly 0. 9λ, and a reflector when the circumferential length of the loop is nearly 1. 2λ provided the distance between the parasitic loop and the top plane of helical antennas is approximately 0. 1λ, where λ is the wavelength. Next, the function of the parasitic loop is investigated by comparing the current distributions on the helices and the loop with those on a monofilar helix with a ground plane. It is found that the function of the parasitic loop is quite different from that of the ground plane. Then, the case of two parasitic loops is examined, and it is shown that the use of two parasitic loops is very effective and simple measures to control the radiation pattern and gain of the backfire quadrifilar helical antennas. Finally, for this type of antennas with two parasitic loops, an example of structural parameters suited to the use in satellite communications is presented.

A broadband rhombic loop antenna is introduced to radiate a circularly polarized wave. This antenna has a single feed and is located above a ground plane. The perimeter of the loop is typically about 1.3 wavelength. One gap is made on the loop to produce a traveling wave distribution of current. Antenna characteristics are calculated by the method of moments and compared with the measured data. By adjusting a perimeter and a gap position of the loop, circular polarization is obtained. In addition, with the appropriate vertex angle of the rhombus, the bandwidth of about 20% for the axial ratio (2dB) is attained and the possibility of controlling the input impedance is found. Finally, it is observed that sense of circular polarization can be changed easily from left-hand to right-hand, and vice versa by switching one gap position to the other on the rhombic loop.

This paper describes that the dielectric characteristics of a catheter around the interstitial antenna have an effect on the wavelength for current, and this effect results in the variation of the SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) distribution around the antenna. A theoretical study of SAR distribution ground a coaxial-slot antenna is performed. Analytical technique used is the moment method. Result and discussion on the effect of material and thickness of the catheter are presented. The wavelength for the current shortens with increasing dielectric constant or decreasing thickness of the catheter. Due to this variation of the wavelength for current, the SAR distributions take various shapes.