Open Access
Hexagonal CORPS-BFN to feed OLAF SAR instrument
(IEEE, 2021) Biurrun Quel, Carlos; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Río Bocio, Carlos del; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
The concept of Coherently Radiating Periodic Structures-based Beam Forming Networks is applied to feed OLAF (OverLapped SubArray Fed) antenna for SAR Instrument at L-Band. The proper feeding of this system requires the multiple beams to be highly overlapped, and that is generated by a CORPS-BFN using a new 4-port Gysel power combiner/divider implemented in a suspended stripline technology. The network provides high isolation between inputs/outputs, low insertion loss, great return loss and the desired ovelapping of the different beams.
Open Access
Advanced feeds for mm-wave antenna systems
(Springer, 2018) Teniente Vallinas, Jorge; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Gonzalo García, Ramón; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Millimeter-wave antenna systems have traditionally required high performance feeds in order to fulfill its stringent requirements. Therefore, this goal has been achieved by corrugated horns. However, in the last years new applications mainly in the communication systems have driven the use of other types of antenna feed with slightly reduced performance but simpler manufacturing at mm-wave and submm-wave frequencies with improvements in cost reduction. These advanced profiles are usually based in smooth waveguide advanced profiles. Besides, the chapter describes different feed configurations based on metamaterial structures and several examples of metamaterial based or inspired antennas are considered. Then, this chapter covers the different alternatives currently used for mm-wave antenna feed: corrugated horns, spline horns, and metamaterial horns. At the end of each section, it includes some research successful results.
Open Access
3-D printed horn antennas and components performance for space and telecommunications
(IEEE, 2018) Teniente Vallinas, Jorge; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Caballero Nagore, Rubén; Valcázar Berdofe, Daniel; Goñi, Mikel; Martínez, Aitor; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
In this work, a study of the performance of several antennas and components, manufactured using an accurate stereolithography 3D printer and resin for maximum accuracy and detail, is carried out. Electroless plating of the components to cover the pieces with a thick copper layer to improve their mechanical resistance is undertaken. Several SatCom horn antennas and components are designed, manufactured, and tested. A detailed study of a spline horn antenna and a filter is covered. These results are compared to the metallic lathe manufactured versions. Conclusions are derived from these tests, which are useful to improve additive manufactured components in future versions.
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
Research on metamaterials for antenna applications
(2005) Gonzalo García, Ramón; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Martínez Pascual, Beatriz; Sáenz Sáinz, Elena; Cantora Álvarez, Pablo; Maagt, Peter de; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
During the last 20 years a lot of attention has been paid to apply Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) technology in different frequency ranges, from microwaves to optics. EBG technology is based on the use of periodic structures to prevent the electromagnetic propagation in certain frequency ranges, known as the bandgap [1]. In the last years the new and revolutionary field of Metamaterials is trying to be applied to similar applications. Although different, both technologies have some similitudes as it has been proven for different authors. For instance when working with EBG structures Left-Handed properties can be obtained in some frequency ranges. In this paper, research efforts focussed on applying EBG technology and the more recent Metamaterials, in particular, left-handed materials, to antenna subsystems at microwave and (sub)millimetre wave frequencies are introduced.
Open Access
Characterization of multilayer coupling based on square complementary split ring resonator for multiport device implementation
(MDPI, 2023) Jarauta Ayensa, Eduardo; Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
The advent of context-aware environments and related applications demands a high degree of connectivity, with new spectral bands and related radio resource management functionalities in the current 5G bands and foreseen in future 6G wireless communication systems. This, in turn, poses new challenges in the implementation of wireless transceivers and radiating systems, in terms of device integration, miniaturization and element isolation, among others. High-performance miniature devices are presented and studied in this work, aided by metamaterial-inspired complementary resonators. A single particle is used to build a single layer, double layer, double frequency resonators and power dividers. A complete characterization of each equivalent circuit is also analyzed, showing great agreement between analytical circuit models and full-wave electromagnetic simulations. By adding more particles, different diplexers and triplexers in the multi-layer configuration are proposed. The flexibility in the design is the key advantage, as all devices are easily tunable and the output lines can be built in different layers, enabling frequency scalability from RF to millimeter wave ranges. Nevertheless, they are only a sample of all possible combinations of devices that can be designed for integration in future wireless communication systems.
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
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
Broadband radar cross-section reduction using AMC technology
(IEEE, 2013) Iriarte Galarregui, Juan Carlos; Tellechea Pereda, Amagoia; Martínez de Falcón, José Luis; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Gonzalo García, Ramón; Maagt, Peter de; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
This paper presents the design, fabrication and characterization of a planar broadband chessboard structure to reduce the radar cross-section (RCS) of an object. The chessboard like configuration is formed by combining two artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) cells. The bandwidth limitations intrinsic to AMC structures are overcome in this work by properly selecting the phase slope versus frequency of both AMC structures. 180 degrees phase difference has been obtained over more than 40% frequency bandwidth with a RCS reduction larger than 10dB. The influence of the incidence angle in the working bandwidth has been performed. A good agreement between simulations and measurements is achieved.
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.