Search

A microwave device able to detect differential-mode to common-mode conversion (or vice versa) in a four-port balanced circuit is proposed. For mode conversion detection, the balanced circuit should be fed by a differential-mode signal, generated by means of a rat-race balun from a single-ended signal. By connecting the pair of output ports of the balanced circuit under test to one of the two pairs of isolated ports of a second rat-race coupler, conversion to the common-mode (if it exists) can be detected and recorded in the $\Sigma $ -port. Since the signal level at the output (single-ended) port depends on mode conversion efficiency, the complete two-port structure, including the pair of rat-race couplers plus the balanced circuit in between, can be used as a comparator or differential microwave sensor based on mode conversion. In such a sensor, the working principle is symmetry disruption (caused, e.g., by an asymmetric dielectric load), and the output variable is the transmission coefficient, related to the level of asymmetry. A detailed analysis, considering an arbitrary unbalanced four-port test structure (to account for symmetry disruption), is carried out. Then, such analysis is particularized to the case of a pair of unbalanced and uncoupled matched lines, and the conditions for sensitivity optimization are obtained. Finally, a differential sensor and comparator based on a pair of balanced (and meandered) matched lines, designed according to the guidelines for sensitivity optimization, is fabricated and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high data capacity chipless radio frequency identification (chipless-RFID) system, useful for security and authentication applications, is presented in this paper. Reading is based on the near-field coupling between the tag, a chain of identical split-ring resonators (SRRs) printed on a (typically flexible) dielectric substrate (e.g., liquid crystal polymer, plastic, and paper), and the reader. Encoding is achieved by the presence or absence of SRRs at predefined (equidistant) positions in the chain, and tag identification (ID) is based on sequential bit reading. Namely, the tag must be longitudinally displaced, at short distance, over the reader, a microstrip line loaded with an SRR and fed by a harmonic signal. By this means, the harmonic signal is amplitude modulated, and the (ID) code is contained in the envelope function, which can be obtained by means of an envelope detector. With this system, tag reading requires proximity with the reader, but this is not an issue in many applications within the domain of security and authentication (e.g., secure paper for corporate documents and certificates). Several circularly shaped 40-bit encoders (implemented in a commercial microwave substrate), and the corresponding reader, are designed and fabricated as proof-of-concept demonstrators. Strategies for programming the tags and a first proof-of-concept chipless-RFID tag fabricated on plastic substrate through inkjet printing are included in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The accurate measurement of the angular displacement and velocity of reaction wheels is necessary for attitude (orientation) control in space vehicles (satellites). In this paper, microwave, contactless, and low-cost (as compared to optical encoders) sensors useful for that purpose are analyzed in detail. The sensor consists of a rotor and a stator. The rotor is a disk (or a circular crown) of dielectric material, where one or several arrays of equidistant single-loop split ring resonators (SRRs) are etched along its edge, forming circular chains of hundreds of SRRs. The stator is a coplanar waveguide (CPW) also loaded with pairs of single-loop SRRs (etched in the back substrate side), with the centers located in the slot region. The sensing principle is based on the amplitude modulation of a harmonic (single-tone continuous wave) feeding signal, achieved when the chains of the rotor are displaced over the SRR pairs of the stator. Both sensor elements (rotor and stator) must be parallel oriented, with the SRR pairs of the CPW in close proximity to the SRR chains of the rotor (and rotated 180°), in order to favor their coupling. By this means, the transmission coefficient of the CPW is varied by the circular motion of the rotor, and significant amplitude modulation of the feeding signal is achieved. From the envelope function, the angular velocity can be accurately determined. With the proposed sensors, instantaneous and practically unlimited rotation speeds can be measured. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Spectral signature barcodes functional at the $S$ frequency band are presented in this paper. The barcodes are implemented by loading a coplanar waveguide transmission line by means of multiple S-shaped split ring resonators (S-SRRs), each one tuned to a different frequency. The main particularity of this paper is the fact that more than two logic states (i.e., three or four, depending on the implementation) are assigned to each resonant element. By this means, the total number of bits of the barcode (for a given number of resonators) is increased, as compared with previous approaches based on two logic states per resonator. This multistate functionality is achieved by rotating the S-SRRs. Such rotation modulates the line-to-resonator coupling intensity, and consequently the notch depth at the S-SRR fundamental resonance. Therefore, by considering three or four fixed rotation angles (or orientations) between the line axis and the S-SRR (for the tri- and four-state multiresonator barcodes, respectively), intermediate levels between the maximum and minimum attenuation are achieved. This multistate strategy only exploits a single frequency per resonant element (the fundamental one). Therefore, the data capacity per bandwidth are improved as compared with two-state-based barcodes or to multistate barcodes that use two frequencies per resonant element. As illustrative examples, two different four-state multiresonator barcodes with eight S-SRRs (providing 4^{8}= 65.536 different codes, or 16 bits) and with nine S-SRRs (equivalent to 18 bits), occupying a spectral bandwidth of 1 GHz and less than 6.75 and 8.2 cm2, respectively, are designed, fabricated, and characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the analysis of splitter/ combiner microstrip sections where each branch is loaded with a complementary split ring resonator (CSRR). The distance between CSRRs is high, and hence, their coupling can be neglected. If the structure exhibits perfect symmetry with regard to the axial plane, a single transmission zero (notch) at the fundamental resonance of the CSRR, arises. Conversely, two notches (i.e., frequency splitting) appear if symmetry is disrupted, and their positions are determined not only by the characteristics of the CSRRs but also by the length of the splitter/combiner sections. A model that includes lumped elements (accounting for the CSRR-loaded line sections) and distributed components (corresponding to the transmission lines) is proposed and used to infer the position of the transmission zeros. Frequency splitting is useful for the implementation of differential sensors and comparators based on symmetry disruption. Using the model, the length of the splitter/combiner sections necessary to optimize the sensitivity of the structures as sensing elements is determined. Parameter extraction and comparison with electromagnetic simulations and measurements in several symmetric and asymmetric structures is used to validate the model. Finally, a prototype device sensor/comparator based on the proposed CSRR-loaded splitter/combiner microstrip sections is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Differential techniques are widely used in communication and sensor systems, as these techniques have been shown to improve the performance. This paper shows how differential sensing of permittivity can be conducted in a simple way. For that purpose, a microstrip line loaded with a pair of stepped-impedance resonators is used in two different resonator connections: parallel and cascade. Each resonator is individually perturbed dielectrically so that: 1) when the two individual permittivities are identical, the structure exhibits a single resonance frequency and 2) when the permittivities are different, resonance frequency splitting occurs, giving rise to two resonances (all these resonances are seen in the form of transmission zeroes). The two sensing approaches are successfully validated through electromagnetic simulations and experiments. By virtue of a differential measurement, robustness against changing ambient factors that may produce sensor miscalibration is expected. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a novel approach for the implementation of balanced ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filters with common-mode noise suppression. To a first-order approximation, the differential-mode filter response is described by the canonical circuit model of a bandpass filter, i.e., a cascade of series-connected resonators alternating with shunt-connected parallel resonant tanks. Thus, the series branches of the balanced filter are implemented by means of inductive strips and patch capacitors, whereas the shunt sections are realized through mirrored stepped-impedance resonators (SIRs) and low-impedance (i.e., capacitive) short transmission-line sections. For the differential mode, the symmetry plane is a virtual ground, the wide strip sections of the SIRs are effectively grounded, and the SIRs behave as grounded inductors parallel connected to capacitors. However, for the common mode, where the symmetry plane is an open (magnetic wall), the SIRs act as shunt-connected series resonators, thus providing transmission zeros at their resonance frequencies. By properly tailoring the location of these transmission zeros, rejection of the common mode over the differential filter passband can be achieved. To illustrate the potential of the approach, an order-5 balanced bandpass filter covering the regulated band for UWB communications (3.1–10.6 GHz) is designed and fabricated. The filter exhibits common-mode rejection above 10 dB over the whole differential filter passband, with differential-mode insertion losses lower than 1.9 dB and return losses better than 10 dB. Since the proposed design approach is based on planar semi-lumped components, filter size is as small as 10.5 mm\,\times\, 7.6 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract-Distributed mixers are based on the active coupling of two artificial transmission lines (TLs) and provide ultra-wideband performance. This paper shows that it is possible to design distributed mixers with novel performances if artificial TLs with dispersion diagrams different from those provided by conventional series-inductor/shunt-capacitor TLs are used. In particular, three novel distributed mixers, presenting dual-band/diplexer behavior, with and without image rejection or wideband conversion response with image rejection, are proposed, analyzed, and measured. An ideal continuous model is used to analyze the intrinsic behavior of distributed mixers and to show how to engineer their desired performance by proper design of the phase constants. The limitations derived from the unavoidable discrete implementation of the artificial TLs are also assessed. Finally, three mock-ups are implemented and measured. The experimental results obtained proof these novel distributed mixer concepts and validate the proposed theoretical analysis and design methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]