This dissertation demonstrates the implementation methods and performance of antennas on different substrates using the traditional lithography method and Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques. The developed devices are used for biomedical applications and vehicular communications. The effectiveness of using photonic sintering and reactive silver ink to develop 3D printed antennas on thermo-sensitive substrates is investigated. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is used to sinter silver nano-particle ink on the automotive Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and the vero-white polymer. Different sintering profiles of IPL are tested on the ABS and the vero-white to identify the optimal one. Development of antennas using lithography, Aerosol Jet Printer (AJP) combined with thermal sintering, AJP combined with photonic sintering, and AJP combined with reactive ink is investigated and their overall performance is comparedThe first step of this dissertation is to explore the antenna design that is optimal for biomedical, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) applications, operating inside human muscle and in free space. The next step is the development of a dual-band, planar antenna for automotive applications using lithography on a flexible, lightweight substrate and AM techniques on ABS. The antenna performance is tested on a real vehicle and the effects of the ground on the antenna radiation pattern are identified. Co-Planar Waveguide (CPW) lines are developed using the same procedure to identify the losses due to silver conductivity. Thereafter, an Electrically Small Antenna (ESA) is developed on a 3D printed hemisphere for vehicular communications. Prototypes of this antenna are tested on a real vehicle and a ground plane inside a near field system. The effect of the vehicle body on the antenna performance is evaluated.
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