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[Mohammed]

Hello everyone …

I’m simulating a planar array antenna using CST … but l don’t know how to explain the s-polar and smith chart graphs … and how should be my optimum graph … here is the graphs …




Your help is highly appreciated …

Thank you in advance …

Best regards ;;

Mohammed

[bigSteve]

So for the s parameter polar plot you are plotting s11?

What frequency range are you scanning on the smith chart? My guess is that the start frequency is out of band, you travel closer to the center of the smith chart as the array becomes in band, and then back out to the edge of the smith chart as the frequency is too high.

[Mohammed]

[bigSteve]

On the Smith chart, the closer the curve gets to the center, the better the impedance matching is (to 50 Ohms usually). On the outer circle of the smith chart, all power is reflected so nothing is radiated.

You will never get it exactly to the center, and typically you want it such that the VSWR is <2 or 3 at the most (reflection coefficient is < 0.5 ). This basically indicates the operating band of the antenna should be within a circle centered around the center of the Smith chart. The farther away you go, the worse the match and typically therefore the less power is radiated.

For all antennas/arrays, the antenna will have a start and stop frequency. Below the start frequency, the antenna typically has an impedance that is very high and reactive. Hence, the antenna on the smith chart at this frequency will be on the edges of the Smith chart (far from the center, so most power is reflected).

As the antenna comes into band, it loops around the smith chart, goes near the center, and then comes out of band (far from the center of the Smith chart). This is a typical response of an antenna. Dual band antenna usually have two loops on the smith chart, where it comes in and out of band.

[Mohammed]