Horn Antenna Design

Nurbaiti bt. Abd Aziz

B020610143
Faculty of Electronic and Computer Engineering
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka,
Karung Berkunci No 1752,
76109 Durian Tunggal, Melaka
the_baiti@yahoo.com

Abstract—This paper presents the observation and

identification of aperture horn antenna of gain 20dB with 10GHz
frequency and directivity of 22dB. The observations involve the
gain, return loss and bandwidth of the antenna designed. Besides,
the radiation pattern analyzed includes the major lobe, side lobe,
directivity, HPBW and FNBW of the aperture horn antenna.
Index—Horn Antenna, gain, return loss, bandwidth, radiation
pattern, directivity, HPBW, FNBW
II. CALCULATION
There are 3 parameters that has been set to design the
aperture horn antenna; Gain = 20dB, Frequency =10GHz,
Directivity=22dB. The value of a and b of the waveguide part
of the horn antenna are 6cm and 3cm respectively.
The wavelength;

c
I. INTRODUCTION 0.03 m
f

A horn antenna is used for the transmission and reception of

microwave signals. It derives its name from the
characteristic flared appearance. The flared portion can be Resonance Frequency;
square, rectangular, or conical. The maximum radiation and
2 2
response corresponds with the axis of the horn. In this respect, c
fr 5.5902GHz
the antenna resembles an acoustic horn. It is usually fed with a 2 a b
waveguide.
Value of is found using equation;

2 2
2
b Go 3 1 a Go 1
2 2 1 1
2 2 6 3

From the calculation obtained; x= 5.673

Figure 1: Horn Antenna
2
In order to function properly, a horn antenna must be a e h Go 1
;
certain minimum size relative to the wavelength of the 8 3
incoming or outgoing electromagnetic field. If the horn is too
small or the wavelength is too large (the frequency is too low), 0.1702
e
the antenna will not work efficiently.
h 0.2132
Horn antennas are commonly used as the active element
a1 3 h 0.1385
in a dish antenna. The horn is pointed toward the center of the
dish reflector. The use of a horn, rather than a dipole antenna b1 2 e 0.1011
or any other type of antenna, at the focal point of the dish 2
1
2
minimizes loss of energy (leakage) around the edges of the e 1
pe b1 b 0.11427
dish reflector. It also minimizes the response of the antenna to b1 4
unwanted signals not in the favored direction of the dish. 1
2 2
h 1
Horn antennas are used all by themselves in short-range ph a1 a 0.11429
a1 4
radar systems, particularly those used by law-enforcement Pe and Ph must be equal for a pyramidal horn to be physically
personnel to measure the speeds of approaching or retreating
vehicles. realizable.
 a1 50 D. HPBW & FNBW
A 12.24746
h

b1 50
B 9.99995
e

32
GE B 101.8587

32
GH A 124.7516

GE GH GE GH
Dp
32 50 50 50 50
10.1859
e h e h

158.418 10 log158.418 21.9980dB

III. SIMULATION Figure 5: Radiation Pattern in Polar View

A. Return Loss
FNBW = 135o; HPBW= 16.2o

E. Gain

Figure 2: Return Loss of Horn Antenna

S11 = -30.167dB at frequency 9.61GHz.

B. Radiation Pattern

F. Directivity

Figure 3: Radiation Pattern in 3D

C. Bandwidth
Directivity in dB= 19.46+2.7= 22.16dB
For this design, bandwidth is referring to the difference
between upper and lower cut-off frequency at -10 dB because
the transmitted power is assumed to be 90% of the received
power. Bandwidth for this horn design is assumed to be more
than 10GHz.
 IV. DISCUSSION
1. Simulation of the designed aperture horn antenna is
done using CST Microwave Studio.
2. In terms of return loss, the horn antenna produced
return loss S11 of -30.167dB , drop at frequency
9.61GHz which is close to the set value of frequency;
10GHz.
3. The bandwidth of the antenna is the difference
between upper and lower cut off frequency at -10dB,
for this designed, the S-parameter Magnitude doesn‟t
shows at range -10dB, by that, bandwidth is assumed
to be more than 10GHz for this horn antenna.
4. As the return loss drop at frequency 9.61GHz, the
gain obtained at the frequency is 19.40dB, compared
to gain at 10GHz is 19. From the simulation of the
designed horn, the value of gain obtained is 19.40dB
which is slightly different to the theoretical gain,
20dB.
5. The directivity of the antenna observed is 19.46dBi.
As converted in dB, the directivity is 22.16dB which
is slight different from the set value of 22dB
directivity.
6. From the observation of the radiation pattern of the
designed horn antenna, there are major lobe and side
lobes. Major lobe is the maximum lobe in radiation
pattern which is intended to be along the forward axis
and which gives effect of a beam while the side lobe
is a radiation lobe in any direction other than main
beam.
7. Full null beam width (FNBW) is the angle between
two vectors, originating at the pattern‟s origin and
tangent to the main beam at its base.. Half power
beam width (HPBW) is angle between two vectors,
originating at the pattern‟s origin and passing through
these points of the major lobe where the radiation
intensity is half its maximum. For this antenna, the
FNBW is 135o and HPBW obtained is 16.2o.
8. Theoretically, HPBW is FNBW/2, but for this design,
the FNBW/2 is 67.5o, a large different compared to
the simulated result which is 16.2o.
9. There are slight different of directivity, gain and
frequency obtained from the designed antenna
compared to the calculation value. The HPBW
simulated also different to the theoretical value. This
might be due to assumption of value a and b and the
waveguide length also is an assumption value.
Besides, the return loss drops at 9.61GHz instead of
10GHz.
10. The waveguide length is assumed based on the value
must be less than the assumed value of a which is
6cm for this design.
V. CONCLUSION
The horn antenna is designed with measurement a=6cm and
b=3cm, waveguide length is 11.43cm. With reference value
chose for directivity 22dB, gain 20dB and frequency 10GHz,
the return loss for this antenna is lower than -10dB which is
-30.167dB. This antenna can perform at frequency 9.61GHz
and radiates well according to radiation pattern obtained.
The horn antenna is a particularly useful form of antenna
for use with RF microwave applications and waveguide
feeder. Although it is not used below RF microwave
frequencies because waveguides are not used at low
frequencies as a result of the sizes needed, the horn antenna is
nevertheless a very useful form of RF antenna design for use
at high frequencies.
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