The Boeing Company
Non-foster active antenna

Abstract:

In examples, systems and methods for increasing the performance of electrically-small antennas are described. An example system comprises an electrically-small antenna having an antenna feed. The electrically-small antenna is configured to receive a signal. The system also comprises a non-foster circuit having a negative capacitance coupled to the antenna feed in a shunt position. The non-foster circuit is configured to resonate the electrically-small antenna and provide a voltage increase to the received signal. The system also comprises a buffer circuit configured to provide an impedance conversion of the voltage-increased received signal between the antenna feed and an output of the buffer circuit. The buffer circuit includes a field-effect transistor.