Low-Profile Flexible Compact Meandered Harmonic Radiator (F-CMHR) for Insect-Borne Tagging

Arjun Kumar; Abhishek Kandwal; Wei Chen; Manoj  Kumar; Luca Catarinucci; Deepak Sood

Low-Profile Flexible Compact Meandered Harmonic Radiator (F-CMHR) for Insect-Borne Tagging

Arjun Kumar
, Abhishek Kandwal
, Wei Chen
, Manoj Kumar
, Luca Catarinucci
, Deepak Sood

School of CHIPS

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
UNIVERSITA DEL SALENTO, ITALY Lecce, ITALY
Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra, Haryana, India

Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review

Abstract

This paper presents a low-profile flexible compact
meandered harmonic radiator (F-CMHR) designed for passive
insect-borne tracking applications using harmonic radar tech-
nology. The proposed antenna employs an asymmetric mean-
dered dipole structure fabricated on a thin polyimide sub-
strate to achieve significant miniaturization while maintaining
lightweight and flexible characteristics. A low-voltage Schottky
diode (SMS7630-079LF) is integrated at the feed point to
generate second-harmonic radiation at 5.8 GHz from an inci-
dent fundamental frequency of 2.9 GHz. The compact antenna
occupies an electrical size of approximately 0.13λ0 × 0.097λ0,
enabling reduced payload impact for insect tagging. Simulated
results demonstrate strong impedance matching at both operating
frequencies, with return losses below −20 dB and a fractional
bandwidth of 1.21% at 2.9 GHz. The antenna achieves peak
gains of 0.21 dBi at the fundamental frequency and 1.14 dBi
at the second harmonic. Surface current analysis confirms ef-
fective nonlinear harmonic generation and reradiation behavior.
Compared with previously reported planar harmonic tags, the
proposed design offers substantial size reduction while preserving
suitable radiation performance, making it a promising candidate
for compact passive harmonic radar tracking systems.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	IEEE-AMES 2026
Publisher	IEEE
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2026
Event	Additively Manufactured Electronic System - Luven, Belgium Duration: 14 Sept 2026 → 15 Sept 2026 Conference number: 2 https://2026-ieee-ames.org/

Conference

Conference	Additively Manufactured Electronic System
Abbreviated title	AMES
Country/Territory	Belgium
City	Luven
Period	14/09/26 → 15/09/26
Internet address	https://2026-ieee-ames.org/

Cite this

@inproceedings{0ebcf3ac327a4e2faf628d96412a528a,

title = "Low-Profile Flexible Compact Meandered Harmonic Radiator (F-CMHR) for Insect-Borne Tagging",

abstract = "This paper presents a low-profile flexible compact meandered harmonic radiator (F-CMHR) designed for passive insect-borne tracking applications using harmonic radar tech- nology. The proposed antenna employs an asymmetric mean- dered dipole structure fabricated on a thin polyimide sub- strate to achieve significant miniaturization while maintaining lightweight and flexible characteristics. A low-voltage Schottky diode (SMS7630-079LF) is integrated at the feed point to generate second-harmonic radiation at 5.8 GHz from an inci- dent fundamental frequency of 2.9 GHz. The compact antenna occupies an electrical size of approximately 0.13λ0 {\texttimes} 0.097λ0, enabling reduced payload impact for insect tagging. Simulated results demonstrate strong impedance matching at both operating frequencies, with return losses below −20 dB and a fractional bandwidth of 1.21\% at 2.9 GHz. The antenna achieves peak gains of 0.21 dBi at the fundamental frequency and 1.14 dBi at the second harmonic. Surface current analysis confirms ef- fective nonlinear harmonic generation and reradiation behavior. Compared with previously reported planar harmonic tags, the proposed design offers substantial size reduction while preserving suitable radiation performance, making it a promising candidate for compact passive harmonic radar tracking systems.",

author = "Arjun Kumar and Abhishek Kandwal and Wei Chen and Manoj Kumar and Luca Catarinucci and Deepak Sood",

year = "2026",

language = "English",

booktitle = "IEEE-AMES 2026",

publisher = "IEEE",

note = "Additively Manufactured Electronic System, AMES ; Conference date: 14-09-2026 Through 15-09-2026",

url = "https://2026-ieee-ames.org/",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Low-Profile Flexible Compact Meandered Harmonic Radiator (F-CMHR) for Insect-Borne Tagging

AU - Kumar, Arjun

AU - Kandwal, Abhishek

AU - Chen, Wei

AU - Kumar, Manoj

AU - Catarinucci, Luca

AU - Sood, Deepak

N1 - Conference code: 2

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - This paper presents a low-profile flexible compact meandered harmonic radiator (F-CMHR) designed for passive insect-borne tracking applications using harmonic radar tech- nology. The proposed antenna employs an asymmetric mean- dered dipole structure fabricated on a thin polyimide sub- strate to achieve significant miniaturization while maintaining lightweight and flexible characteristics. A low-voltage Schottky diode (SMS7630-079LF) is integrated at the feed point to generate second-harmonic radiation at 5.8 GHz from an inci- dent fundamental frequency of 2.9 GHz. The compact antenna occupies an electrical size of approximately 0.13λ0 × 0.097λ0, enabling reduced payload impact for insect tagging. Simulated results demonstrate strong impedance matching at both operating frequencies, with return losses below −20 dB and a fractional bandwidth of 1.21% at 2.9 GHz. The antenna achieves peak gains of 0.21 dBi at the fundamental frequency and 1.14 dBi at the second harmonic. Surface current analysis confirms ef- fective nonlinear harmonic generation and reradiation behavior. Compared with previously reported planar harmonic tags, the proposed design offers substantial size reduction while preserving suitable radiation performance, making it a promising candidate for compact passive harmonic radar tracking systems.

AB - This paper presents a low-profile flexible compact meandered harmonic radiator (F-CMHR) designed for passive insect-borne tracking applications using harmonic radar tech- nology. The proposed antenna employs an asymmetric mean- dered dipole structure fabricated on a thin polyimide sub- strate to achieve significant miniaturization while maintaining lightweight and flexible characteristics. A low-voltage Schottky diode (SMS7630-079LF) is integrated at the feed point to generate second-harmonic radiation at 5.8 GHz from an inci- dent fundamental frequency of 2.9 GHz. The compact antenna occupies an electrical size of approximately 0.13λ0 × 0.097λ0, enabling reduced payload impact for insect tagging. Simulated results demonstrate strong impedance matching at both operating frequencies, with return losses below −20 dB and a fractional bandwidth of 1.21% at 2.9 GHz. The antenna achieves peak gains of 0.21 dBi at the fundamental frequency and 1.14 dBi at the second harmonic. Surface current analysis confirms ef- fective nonlinear harmonic generation and reradiation behavior. Compared with previously reported planar harmonic tags, the proposed design offers substantial size reduction while preserving suitable radiation performance, making it a promising candidate for compact passive harmonic radar tracking systems.

M3 - Conference Proceeding

BT - IEEE-AMES 2026

PB - IEEE

T2 - Additively Manufactured Electronic System

Y2 - 14 September 2026 through 15 September 2026

ER -