Inkjet-printed 3D Hilbert-curve fractal antennas for VHF band

Abstract

Two miniaturized wire antennas using a 3D space-filling Hilbert-curve (HC) fractal geometry were constructed on a Kodak photo paper using inkjet printing. The proposed antennas each had the 3D dimensions of an 8 cm(3) box and operate at very high-frequency band frequencies of 238 and 147 MHz. We wrapped 4- and 2-mm-thick planar wires around a 3D box made of photo paper using second- and third-order HC space-filling fractal designs. The electrical volumes of the proposed second-order HC and third-order HC fractal antennas were 0.004 (0) x 0.004 (0) x 0.004 (0) and 0.002 (0) x 0.002 (0) x 0.002 (0), respectively. The operation of the proposed antennas was verified using simulation and measurement results.