Experimental validation of the UWB “Eared” antenna for impulse radio applications

An electrically small, printed "Eared" antenna was discussed. The measured impedance bandwidth of this antenna reads 170%. The antenna has a bidirectional radiation pattern and stable co-and low crosspolar patterns within the FCC UWB frequency band. The proper time-domain performance of the antenna was also certified by measurements and it was shown that the group delay of the antenna is almost constant ensuring, with smaller than 4 ns variations, very limited distortions in the received signal. This stable group delay guarantees an appropriate time-domain signal reception, with extremely limited distortions, as evidenced by in the calculations of the fidelity factors. This radiator is one of the smallest antennas that has satisfactory time-domain performances, this making it appropriate for being included in array environments.