Electronics insertion into printed antennas

Although antennas are followed by RF front ends made of electronic components in most radio communication and radar systems, they are typically separated in design and fabrication. This paper provides some effort to unify these two entities to create new avenues for efficient system design. The paper provides examples in two categories; active integrated antennas, and retrodirective systems. In the first category, both antennas and electronic devices are benefiting from each other by placing the device within or in close proximity of the antenna. The latter typically provides circuit functions in addition to radiation capability. The second category is an interesting system capable of providing special radiation properties from the system in which antennas and devices work together.