MWO do system design including horn antenna, possible?

design horn antenna

I am studying a rectenna system. RF to DC
I have some problem to do the system simulation.

May i include a horn antenna in the system simulation to control the power?

I have email the question to jian to know is't possible for IE3D. (but just now, still waiting response)

And I want to try MWO. Hello madengr, will you see this post?
could you give me some advise for this question. thanks

the main issue is judging the total system to control the performance.

several method i thought about for candidate as below

1 MWO, (but i don't more about howto)

2 IE3D (just maybe, cause the EM simulation for antenna and filter are good in IE3D, for co-simulation, is't also ok?)

3 ansoft solution. (HFSS + Desinger), our school don't have the license for designer, but if anyone think it is the way to do this, also useful.

any other reply will be helpful, thanks all.

There is no model of a horn antenna in MWO, or any antenna for that matter. For a system simulation you would use an amplifier (or any element that has gain) and modify it's gain using an equation for path loss.

If you want to model the actual rectifying circuit, you would terminate the circuitry with a source that is of equivalent impedance of your antenna. The HB tuners may be used for this. You can then array these sub circuits and look at things like phase and amplitude taper across the array. There is more to it than that, such as getting the array density optimized (overlapping apertures of each element) to achieve the desired compression point and distribute the power evenly.

The only way to perform a true end to end simulation is to use a 3D tool such as CST to model the horn, path, and receive array. You would obtain S-parameter data with 1 input port and several output ports that you would use in the circuit simulator. This is really not needed though since once the antennas are in the far-field it's just gain and path loss.

madengr said:

There is no model of a horn antenna in MWO, or any antenna for that matter. For a system simulation you would use an amplifier (or any element that has gain) and modify it's gain using an equation for path loss.
．．．.

Click to expand...

thanks, madengr
it's clear and helpful.

Could you take a look at the following steps?

1, i simulate a antenna then Export Equivalent Circuit

2, plus a amp with the Equivalent circuit for the above antenna do the system HB simulation with rectifier circuit and tuning.

is there any other key issue need pay attention to make the simulation really match the measurement?

i will try this way then back reporting.

thanks again, madengr.

You really don't need to export an equivalent circuit. Just simulate the element and find it's impedance. Then use a tuner element to transform 50 ohms to the same impedance and hook it to your rectifier.

Yes, then the tuner will be fed with a gain block that models both antenna gains and path loss.

There are going to be several problems. When forming an array from the elements they must be closely spaced; their effective apertures must overlap so power is shared and a minimum amount goes through the array. The resonant frequency of the array will be different than that of a single element.

Also when you drive a single element it generates a spherical wavefront, but it will be receiving a plane wavefront. Therefore the impedance that you measure won't be the actual source impedance that the element present to the rectifier.

Best I can say is to keep each element and rectifier extremely simple. Don't go adding a bunch of matching networks, etc.. since that will kill your efficiency. The design of rectennas is really measurement based so use the simulator to give you insight into what to tweak, not for absolute answers. Build up, measure, and tweak an element. Then go for 1x2, 2x2, 4x4, etc.. tweaking and gaining insight as you go along.

These things look feasible on paper but perform much poorer in reality.

I know more from your guide.
thank you.
I will try.

HFSS will let you study the details of a horn antenna. Since you do not have Designer there is not much point in discussing that tool.

Hi, sense9968:

I assume you have received all my answers on your questions. Hope you are able to handle it. Thanks!

Hi Jian
Thank you discussing and guiding. It's very useful.
Now i can try more.

Thanks.