SBIR-STTR Award

The Phase I technical objective is to design a series of small receiving antennas which operate in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequency ranges (approximately 1 MHz to 1500 MHz) and then to build and test prototypes of the designs. The antennas are physically small in size and man-packable. Conventional antenna design approaches have constraints which can result in physically large structures, especially in the HF frequency band. Tradeoffs between size and electrical performance are required to develope small antennas. Analysis of the most prevalent RF environment in the frequency bands of interest will be necessary to allow optimizing the antenna size and performance tradeoff, and in general to minimize the amount of hardware required to provide acceptable performance. Delfin Systems has extensive experience in the design and simulation of small, portable antennas, as well as communications system analysis and design. Many Delfin Systems products use optimized, small, lightweight antennas. The designs requiring external power sources have been optimized for extremely low power consumption. Delfin Systems is unique in that it has developed significant expertise in the smooth transition from computer modeling of antenna designs to successful implementation in hardware. The antennas developed in the work are universal, and are capable of working with all common existing equipment. Interfaces to equipment are therefore to be as universal as possible, and modification of existing equipment is not required. The antennas physical configuration can be used in a wide variety of mounting scenarios with minimum installation time and effort. The proposed antennas offer the best tradeoff between physical constraints and desirable electrical properties, and their use or inclusion in existing systems or operational scenarios, requires a minimum of effort and retraining of the user. These small antennas offer appreciable advantages over existing antenna schemes.

Delfin Systems has designed, developed, and prototyped two pertinent innovative, miniature receiving antennas, providing HF through UHF operation, under Phase I of this SBIR program. the prototype antennas, shown in the Executive Summary of this proposal, are a suite of miniature, low-profile, lightweight, low-power (or passive) antennas which are easily transported, deployed, and operated and can be used with existing receivers. The proposed antennas enable signal intercept and intelligence operations demanding wide bandwidth in very small packages in adverse environments. The work completed during Phase I clearly illustrated the problems and trade-offs involved in low-profile broadband antenna design. Delfin Systems proposes, under Phase II of htis SBIR, to optimize and improve two prototype antennas, whil also packaging each antenna as a rugged, field deployable Engineering Development Model. Delfin Systems also proposes a power supply and control unit which will interface between each antenna and many existing receivers to form a complete and easily used receiving system