Open Access
A wide beamwidth magneto-electric dipole atenna for wide beam scanning antenna arrays
(IEEE, 2024-09-30) Khan, Ihtesham; Zhao, Huiling; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza
In this study, a simple and cost-effective configuration to broaden the beamwidths of the patch antenna has been studied. The proposed wide beamwidths antenna consists of two parasitic magnetic dipoles placed orthogonally to a driven electric dipole. Due to the complementary far-field radiation behaviors of both antennas in their respective E-plane and H-plane, the antenna half-power beamwidth broadens. An excellent wide beam of 138.6° and 110.9° in E-plane and H-plane, respectively, has been achieved at 4.72 GHz. The proposed antenna has been fabricated and tested. Measurements shows good agreement with the simulations. The proposed antenna can find its application for the increasing the scanning coverage of the patch antenna arrays.
Open Access
Assessment of mm-wave high resolution inverse SAR imaging both with compact and sparse data
(IEEE, 2023) Iqbal, Muhammad Amjad; Anghel, Andrei; Datcu, Datcu; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
Inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) provides images of objects that are rotated with respect to the radar. An efficient image-focusing algorithm is required to generate ISAR images from the echoes of the raw data. In this study, a monostatic model was deployed to collect radar backscattering data in the millimeter (mm) wave band (67-110 GHz) using targets with circular, rectangular, and non-canonical shapes. The ISAR experiments were performed to assess the imaging performance of the three methods. The ISAR image reconstruction implemented in the wave-number (¿ - k) domain solves the target reflectivity and allows the target to be close to the radar. This shows that the mm-wave radar can achieve a sufficient resolution in the range and azimuth dimensions. Finally, we compared the results with those of spherical wavefront compensation (SWFC) and back-projection (BP) methods. The efficiencies of the three methods were tested using compressible data with wavelet-decomposition-based sparse measurements. To demonstrate the performance of the given methods, the point spread function (PSF) for the impulse response of the mm-wave wire was computed. There is a trade-off: the ¿ - k domain loses resolution compared to the SWFC and BP methods but can obtain a satisfactory image at a lower computational cost.
Open Access
Moisture content estimation models of flour matrices in the 67-110 GHz frequency range using a nondestructive and contactless monitoring system
(IEEE, 2023) Quemada Mayoral, Carlos; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Gonzalo García, Ramón; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Estadística, Informática y Matemáticas; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Estatistika, Informatika eta Matematika; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
This work addresses the lack of moisture content estimation models for food products in the millimeter-wave frequency range and showcases the potential of this range for designing compact, cost-effective, and in-line food moisture sensors. The moisture content estimation models developed in this study are intended for flour-based mixtures in the 67-110 GHz frequency range and are derived by means of a nondestructive and contactless monitoring system. To this aim, data obtained by continuous-wave (CW) vector network analyzer (VNA) spectroscopy is used to create two different models, both with a coefficient of determination ( R2 ) of 0.97. One model is based on the theoretical response obtained by means of the Looyenga effective medium theory (EMT) model, while the other is based on measured data. Both models have been experimentally validated with root mean square error (RMSE) values of 0.4% and 0.35%, respectively. These small estimation errors show the potential of this frequency range to design compact, cost-effective, and in-line food moisture sensors. This research contributes to improving quality control and monitoring of moisture levels in flour-based mixtures.
Open Access
Wideband circularly-polarized gap waveguide-based antenna design
(IEEE, 2025-03-12) Leoz-Beltrán, Iñigo; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Pérez Quintana, Dayan; Teberio Berdún, Fernando; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza
This paper presents the design of an all-metal antenna based on Gap Waveguide technology. The antenna, which is realized using a Ridge Gap Waveguide, consists of just two layers, maintaining a compact size. The first layer is made up of two perpendicularly placed arms, which comprise the feeding, and the second layer hosts a diamond shaped slot and a horn, which comprise the radiator. Simulations show that the design achieves a remarkable bandwidth equivalent to the 31.43% of the central frequency in terms of both S11 parameter, being below -10 dB, and Axial Ratio, being below 3 dB.
Open Access
Design alternatives for a submillimeter-wave Fabry-Perot cavity antenna with a SiGe on-chip feed
(IEEE, 2024-02-17) Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Khan, Ihtesham; Herrera-Martin, Juan M.; Urain, Álvaro; Berenguer, Roc; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; González Posadas, Vicente; Segovia-Vargas, Daniel; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PRO-UPNA 11893
In this paper different alternatives for the design of a Fabry-Perot cavity antenna operating in the Sub-mmwave frequency range and fed by a SiGe spiral antenna are evaluated. In particular a single spiral and a sequentially fed array of spiral antennas are compared, showing, due to the losses in the Si substrate the superior performance of the single fed cavity. However, the use of a sequentially rotated array significantly improves the Axial Ratio (AR).
Open Access
New hexagonal CORPS-BFN for multibeam antenna applications
(IEEE, 2020) Biurrun Quel, Carlos; Montesano, Antonio; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Río Bocio, Carlos del; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
This work presents a new topology of a Coherently Radiating Periodic Structure - Beam Forming Network (CORPS-BFN) and its application for multibeam systems. A unit cell, consisting of a transition from a coaxial input to an intersection of three strip-lines with an angular span of 120 degrees, is proposed and analysed. A periodical replication of the cell gives rise to a uniform layer, allowing a proper matching of the ports of the network. Stacked layers allow in-phase propagation and distribution of the energy through the structure, increasing the number of output ports with each layer.
Open Access
A new ABS conductive material to develop fully 3D-printed patch antennas
(IEEE, 2023) Jiménez Peña, Javier; Irigoyen, Joseba; Aresti Bartolomé, Maite; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Bravo Larrea, Javier; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Additive manufacturing technology is rapidly overcoming some of its initial limitations and, thus, creating a very useful engineering option for prototyping complex geometries for a wide range of electronic devices. Based on important advantages such as turn-around, reliability, material waste reduction, and low implementation costs, the technology is being continuously developed and improved. This paper presents a completely 3D-printed microstrip patch antenna to demonstrate the feasibility of a new conductive Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) material in the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) antennas using additive manufacturing method. The prototype of the antenna has been fabricated using Raise3D E2 printer, commercial ABS and a new ABS filament developed by Naitec for dielectric and conductive parts of the antenna, respectively. The fabricated antenna is compact and light. Preliminary prototypes and fabrication techniques are presented.
Open Access
Remote sensing for plant water content monitoring: a review
(MDPI, 2021) Quemada Mayoral, Carlos; Pérez Escudero, José Manuel; Gonzalo García, Ramón; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Santesteban García, Gonzaga; Torres Molina, Nazareth; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB
Las redes sociales se han convertido en una de las principales fuentes de información, especialmente entre los más jóvenes. Al mismo tiempo, se ha incrementado la producción y circulación de información falsa o fake news a través de las redes. En este contexto, resulta crucial que los jóvenes adquieran estrategias y competencias para realizar una lectura crítica de la información que consumen. Este estudio busca analizar el comportamiento del alumnado de secundaria ante la información falsa y el efecto de una intervención didáctica, realizada online durante la pandemia de la covid-19, cuyo objetivo era que el alumnado desarrollara competencias para detectar noticias falsas. Se trata de una investigación participativa con un diseño de pre-test y post-test. Los resultados muestran que el alumnado incrementó su competencia para identificar algunos tipos de falsedad como la información no probada y la información tergiversada, si bien tuvo problemas para reconocer información descontextualizada o el uso de lenguaje discriminatorio. Las estrategias que más utilizó son la comprobación de datos en internet y el uso de verificadores. Se observaron comportamientos diferenciados entre el alumnado que identificó la información falsa y el que no lo hizo. Las conclusiones apuntan a la necesidad de trabajar en el aula de forma integral, extensiva y transversal la evaluación de la información partiendo de las habilidades que el alumnado ya posee.
Open Access
A Fabry-Perot cavity antenna with a SiGe on-chip feeder for submm-wave applications
(IEEE, 2024-09-30) Khan, Ihtesham; Herrera-Martín, Juan M.; Urain, Álvaro; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Teniente Vallinas, Jorge; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Berenguer, Roc; González Posadas, Vicente; Segovia-Vargas, Daniel; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
This paper analyzes the performance of a Fabry-Perot cavity antenna fed by an on-chip spiral antenna and compares it with an on-chip antenna designed to be integrated in IHP's 130nmSiGe BiCMOS chip in a 2 × 2 array configuration. The results show the increase in directivity obtained by the combination of the Fabry-Perot cavity and a single spiral antenna versus the directivity obtained by forming a complex sequentially rotated 2 × 2 spiral array.
Open Access
A metasurface-enhanced substrate-integrated waveguide antenna
(IEEE, 2024) Chocarro Álvarez, Javier; Pérez Escudero, José Manuel; Teniente Vallinas, Jorge; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa.
The design, manufacture and characterization of a slotted waveguide antenna using substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) technology combined with a metasurface are described in this paper. The inclusion of the metasurface serves to augment the radiating aperture and narrows the E-plane cut of the antenna pattern, a characteristic that would otherwise be dictated by the slots. For demonstration, an 8-element slotted SIW (S-SIW) antenna array with a -20 dB sidelobe level Chebyshev distribution was designed and its performance was compared to that of a conventional slotted SIW array. Owing to the metasurface, the radiation pattern E-plane narrows and 3 dB gain improvement has been achieved, while keeping matching unaffected.