Professor Lee Ford
PhD, BEng
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Professor in Electromagnetic Structure Design
Communications Research Group
Director of Learning and Teaching (Strategy)
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+44 114 222 5904
Full contact details
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Profile
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I received the BEng and PhD. degrees in electronic engineering from The University of Sheffield in 1998 and 2003 respectively, followed by a Higher Doctorate (DEng) in 2023. In 2001, I joined the Stealth Materials Department at the Advanced Technology Center within BAE Systems as a research scientist working on a range of electromagnetics based projects. In 2005, I joined The University of Sheffield, as a Lecturer of communications, becomming a Senior Lecturer in 2012, Reader in 2019 and Professor in 2020.
I have led and contributed to over 30 research projects funded by the EPSRC, EU, government, and industry, totalling £9.8M of funding. I have also worked on consulting projects to a range of industry partners, totalling over £500k of funding.
My current research interests include metamaterials, antenna design, and reconfigurable electromagnetic devices.
- Qualifications
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- DEng (University of Sheffield), 2023
- PhD (Electronic Engineering, University of Sheffield), 2003
- BEng (Electronic Engineering - Communications, University of Sheffield), 1998
- Research interests
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- Direct antenna modulation
- Metasurfaces for magnetic resonance imaging applications
- Reconfigurable antennas, metamaterials and metasurfaces
- Electrically small antennas, metamaterials and metasurfaces
- Electromagnetic material characterisation
- Publications
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Journal articles
- Concurrent Multiband Direct RF Sampling Receivers. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 22(1), 550-562.
- A system‐level performance evaluation of a reconfigurable filtenna in the presence of in‐ and out‐of‐band blockers. IET Communications, 16(20), 2492-2500.
- Reflective Switchable Polarization Rotator Based on Metasurface With PIN Diodes. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 69(3), 1483-1492. View this article in WRRO
- A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Surface Coil Transceiver Employing a Metasurface for 1.5T Applications. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, 39(4), 1085-1093. View this article in WRRO
- Direct Antenna Modulation for High-Order Phase Shift Keying. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 68(1), 111-120. View this article in WRRO
- Low-Profile Independently-and Concurrently-Tunable Quad-Band Antenna for Single Chain Sub-6GHz 5G New Radio Applications. IEEE Access, 7, 183770-183782. View this article in WRRO
- Systems Analysis of a Pattern Reconfigurable Antenna for Capacity Improvement of Cell Edge Users in Cellular Networks. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 67(12), 11848-11857. View this article in WRRO
- High-gain pattern reconfigurable micro-strip dipole antenna with a gain enhancing partially reflecting surface. IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation, 12(10), 1679-1683. View this article in WRRO
- An Independently Tunable Tri-Band Antenna Design for Concurrent Multiband Single Chain Radio Receivers. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 65(12), 6290-6297. View this article in WRRO
- Bit-Error-Rate Performance of Quadrature Modulation Transmission Using Reconfigurable Frequency Selective Surfaces. IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, 16, 2038-2041. View this article in WRRO
- Enhancement of radio frequency magnetic field for a 1.5 T magnetic resonance system using a high impedance surface. IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation, 10(13), 1378-1383. View this article in WRRO
- Secure Electromagnetic Buildings Using Slow Phase-Switching Frequency-Selective Surfaces. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION, 64(1), 251-261. View this article in WRRO
- Miniaturized Low Frequency Platform Tolerant Antenna. PROGRESS IN ELECTROMAGNETICS RESEARCH-PIER, 146, 195-207.
- Switchable electromagnetic bandgap surface wave antenna. International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, 2014. View this article in WRRO
- Reconfigurable frequency selective surface for use in secure electromagnetic buildings. Electronics Letters, 49(14), 897-898.
- Use of a plane-wave synthesis technique to obtain target rcs from near-field measurements, with selective feature extraction capability. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 61(4), 2051-2057.
- Compact low frequency varactor loaded tunable SRR antenna. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 61(4), 2301-2304.
- Miniaturised dual-band artificial magnetic conductor with reduced mutual coupling. ELECTRONICS LETTERS, 48(8), 425-U26.
- Independently tunable low-profile dual-band high-impedance surface antenna system for applications in UHF band. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 60(9), 4092-4101.
- Dynamic basestation antenna design for low energy networks. Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, 31, 153-168.
- Elastic dipole antenna prepared with thin metal films on elastomeric substrate. ELECTRONICS LETTERS, 48(2), 65-66.
- Geometric transition radar absorbing material loaded with a binary frequency selective surface. IET RADAR SONAR NAV, 5(4), 483-488.
- Miniature platform tolerant antenna composed of microstrip line and AMC surface. ELECTRON LETT, 46(22), 1480-1481.
- Loaded split ring antenna over AMC. ELECTRON LETT, 46(14), 971-972.
- Switchable Frequency Selective Surface for Reconfigurable Electromagnetic Architecture of Buildings. IEEE T ANTENN PROPAG, 58(2), 581-584.
- Optimisation of a pyramidal geometric transition radar absorbing material loaded with a resistive frequency selective surface. IET RADAR SONAR NAV, 3(6), 596-600.
- Design Methodology for a Miniaturized Frequency Selective Surface Using Lumped Reactive Components. IEEE T ANTENN PROPAG, 57(9), 2732-2738.
- Optimisation of stepped permittivity impedance loaded absorber. ELECTRON LETT, 45(7), 339-U1.
- Miniaturised artificial magnetic conductor design using lumped reactive components. ELECTRON LETT, 45(6), 294-U2.
- Angle and polarization-independent bandstop frequency selective surface for indoor wireless systems. MICROW OPT TECHN LET, 50(9), 2315-2317.
- Street furniture antenna radiation pattern control using AMC surfaces. IEEE T ANTENN PROPAG, 56(9), 3049-3052.
- Miniaturised bandpass frequency selective surface with lumped components. ELECTRON LETT, 44(18), 1054-U12.
- Single-layer bandpass active frequency selective surface. MICROW OPT TECHN LET, 50(8), 2149-2151.
- Dual band tunable EBG. ELECTRON LETT, 44(6), 392-394.
- Improvement in the low frequency performance of geometric transition radar absorbers using square loop impedance layers. IEEE T ANTENN PROPAG, 56(1), 133-141.
- Oblique incidence performance of a novel frequency selective surface absorber. IEEE T ANTENN PROPAG, 55(10), 2931-2934.
- Application of impedance loading to geometric transition radar absorbent material. IEEE T ELECTROMAGN C, 49(2), 339-345.
- A new microwave 'smart window' based on a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) composite. J MATER CHEM, 13(1), 16-20.
- A reconfigurable transmitarray unit cell employing liquid metal. IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation.
- Investigation of a Switchable Textile Communication System on the Human Body. Electronics, 3(3), 491-503. View this article in WRRO
Conference proceedings papers
- Direct IF Sampling Receivers for 5G Millimeter-Wave Communications Systems. 2023 IEEE 34th Annual International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC), 5 September 2023 - 8 September 2023.
- An Experimental System for the Measurement of Electromagnetic Propagation on Curved Surfaces. 2023 17th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), 26 March 2023 - 31 March 2023.
- An Upconverting Superheterodyne Metamaterial. 2023 17th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), 26 March 2023 - 31 March 2023.
- Tuneable Polarisation Agnostic Reflectarray Element at mmWave Using Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal. 2023 17th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), 26 March 2023 - 31 March 2023.
- Machine Learning-Assisted Optimization of a Metasurface-Based Directly Modulating Antenna. 2022 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting (AP-S/URSI), 10 July 2022 - 15 July 2022.
- The effect of ADC resolution on concurrent, multiband, direct RF sampling receivers. 2021 IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), 7 December 2021 - 11 December 2021.
- Metasurface Direct Antenna Modulators in non-Line of Sight Channels for the Internet of Things. 2020 IEEE 31st Annual International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications, 31 August 2020 - 3 September 2020.
- Direct Antenna Modulator for m-QAM Applications. 2020 14th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), 15 March 2020 - 20 March 2020.
- Study of Printed Scattering Reflectors Based on Discretised Metasurface. 2020 14th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), 15 March 2020 - 20 March 2020.
- Tri-band Single Chain Radio Receiver for Concurrent Radio. 2020 2nd 6G Wireless Summit (6G SUMMIT), 17 March 2020 - 20 March 2020.
- Tuning Range Enhancement of a Frequency-Agile Tri-band Slot Antenna. 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting, 7 July 2019 - 12 July 2019. View this article in WRRO
- Planar Frequency-Tunable Quad-Band Antenna with Independently Controllable Bands. 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting, 7 July 2019 - 12 July 2019. View this article in WRRO
- A Single Unit Cell Metasurface for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Applications. 2018 12th International Congress on Artificial Materials for Novel Wave Phenomena (Metamaterials), 27 August 2018 - 1 September 2018.
- A low-complexity array of directly phase modulating antennas. 12th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2018)
- 5G Reconfigurable Antennas. 12th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2018)
- A low-loss reconfigurable Frequency Selective Surface based antenna for Direct Antenna Modulation. Loughborough Antennas & Propagation Conference (LAPC 2017) View this article in WRRO
- Concurrent, Multi-Band, Single-Chain Radio Receiver for High Data-Rate HetNets. 2017 IEEE 86th Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC-Fall), 24 September 2017 - 27 September 2017. View this article in WRRO
- Tunable, concurrent multiband, single chain radio architecture for low energy 5G-RANs. 2017 15th International Symposium on Modeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad Hoc, and Wireless Networks, WiOpt 2017 View this article in WRRO
- Concurrent, Tunable, Multi-Band, Single Chain Radio Receivers for 5G RANs. IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference, Vol. 2017-June View this article in WRRO
- Frequency selective surface loaded antenna for direct antenna modulation. 2017 11th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EUCAP 2017 (pp 731-734) View this article in WRRO
- A pattern reconfigurable microstrip dipole antenna with PRS gain enhancement. 2017 11th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EUCAP 2017 (pp 3131-3134) View this article in WRRO
- A reflective capacitive impedance surface for 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging applications. 2016 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2016
- A study on the use of metasurface synthesis using electric and magnetic susceptibility. 2016 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2016
- Metasurface synthesis using susceptibility tensors and holographic technique. Loughborough Antennas & Propagation Conference (LAPC 2017)
- A Reconfigurable Capacitive Impedance Surface for 1.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging Applications. Loughborough Antennas & Propagation Conference (LAPC 2017)
- A study on the use of metasurfaces for magnetic resonance imaging of human body models. 2017 International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, ISAP 2017, Vol. 2017-January (pp 1-2)
- Tuneable dual-band antenna for sub 1 GHz cellular mobile radio applications. 2016 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2016 View this article in WRRO
- Evaluation of High Impedance Surfaces for MRI RF coil applications - Simulations of RF field and Specific Absorption Rate. 2016 10th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2016 View this article in WRRO
- Demonstration of RF digitising concurrent dual-band receiver for carrier aggregation over TV white spaces. IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference, Vol. 0 View this article in WRRO
- A high impedance surface for improving the radio frequency magnetic field for a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance system. 2015 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2015
- View this article in WRRO
- View this article in WRRO
- A digitally tuned capacitor as an active element for reconfigurable Artificial Magnetic Conductors. 2014 IEEE Asia-Pacific Conference on Applied Electromagnetics (APACE), 8 December 2014 - 10 December 2014.
- Analysis of the use of beam reconfigurable antennas in a homogeneous cellular network deployment. 2014 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2014 (pp 169-172)
- A triple band Artificial Magnetic Conductor surface incorporating a split ring resonator antenna. 2014 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference (LAPC), 10 November 2014 - 11 November 2014.
- Advanced modelling of intelligent walls for indoor smart environments. 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2014 (pp 620-622)
- A passive system for increasing cellular coverage within energy efficient buildings. 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2014 (pp 614-615)
- A dynamic basestation antenna with reconfigurable azimuth beamwidth. 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2014 (pp 1889-1892)
- A reconfigurable artificial magnetic conductor adopting a digitally tuned capacitor. 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2014 (pp 1899-1901)
- A miniaturised dual band artificial magnetic conductor using interdigital capacitance. 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2014 (pp 25-26)
- Frequency selective building facades. 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2014 (pp 623-624)
- Advanced modelling of intelligent walls for indoor smart environments. The 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2014), 6 April 2014 - 11 April 2014.
- A dynamic basestation antenna with reconfigurable azimuth beamwidth. The 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2014), 6 April 2014 - 11 April 2014.
- A passive system for increasing cellular coverage within energy efficient buildings. The 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2014), 6 April 2014 - 11 April 2014.
- Secure Electromagnetic Buildings. 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2014). The Hague, Netherlands, 6 April 2014 - 11 April 2014.
- Controlling coverage for indoor wireless networks using Metalized Active FSS Walls. 2013 19th Asia-Pacific Conference on Communications, APCC 2013 (pp 496-500)
- Oblique incidence analysis of a Salisbury screen employing a non-foster matching technique. 2013 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2013 (pp 510-513)
- Intelligent RF Wall Unit for in-building WLAN applications. 2013 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2013 (pp 217-220)
- A dual band miniaturised Artificial Magnetic Conductor design methodology. LAPC 2012 - 2012 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference
- Switchable textile microstrip antenna for on/off-body communications and shape distortion study. 2012 IEEE Asia-Pacific Conference on Antennas and Propagation, APCAP 2012 - Proceedings (pp 114-115)
- Diffraction from frequency selective surfaces for secure building applications. Proceedings of 6th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2012 (pp 2388-2391)
- Stretchable antennas. Proceedings of 6th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2012 (pp 168-171)
- Small antenna over AMC surface with/out vias. Proceedings of 6th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2012 (pp 2712-2715)
- Switchable on/off-body communication at 2.45 GHz using textile microstrip patch antenna on stripline. Proceedings of 6th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2012 (pp 728-731)
- A miniaturised dual band Artificial Magnetic Conductor using lumped components. LAPC 2011 - 2011 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference
- Independent multiband tuning using an active AMC. Proceedings - 2011 IEEE-APS Topical Conference on Antennas and Propagation in Wireless Communications, APWC'11 (pp 576-579)
- Triple-band split ring antenna over loaded AMC surface. LAPC 2011 - 2011 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference
- Electrically small triple-band SRR antenna. Proceedings - 2011 International Conference on Electromagnetics in Advanced Applications, ICEAA'11 (pp 831-834)
- Radiation steering of a low profile street furniture antenna using an active AMC. 2010 Loughborough Antennas & Propagation Conference, 8 November 2010 - 9 November 2010.
- Propagation control using SIW technology. 2010 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and CNC-USNC/URSI Radio Science Meeting - Leading the Wave, AP-S/URSI 2010
- A new approach for on-body and off-body communications. 2010 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2010 (pp 333-336)
- Elastic antennas by metallised elastomers. 2010 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2010 (pp 421-424)
- Radiation steering of a low profile street furniture antenna using an active AMC. 2010 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2010 (pp 529-531)
- Miniaturised split ring antenna over loaded AMC surface. 2010 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2010 (pp 305-308)
- Tunable antennas and AMC structures. 2010 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and CNC-USNC/URSI Radio Science Meeting - Leading the Wave, AP-S/URSI 2010
- 60 GHz ASK modulator using switchable FSS. 2010 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and CNC-USNC/URSI Radio Science Meeting - Leading the Wave, AP-S/URSI 2010
- Genetic algorithm optimisation of dual polarised pyramidal absorbers loaded with a binary FSS. Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2009 - Conference Proceedings (pp 217-220)
- Miniaturised periodic structures with antenna applications. Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC 2009 - Conference Proceedings (pp 18-21)
- Dipole radiation steering using an active artificial magnetic conductor. 2008 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium, 5 July 2008 - 11 July 2008.
- Dual band tunable antenna and EBG. IET Seminar Digest, Vol. 2008(12219) (pp 167-172)
- Independent multiband antenna tuning using an active EBG. 2008 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC (pp 141-144)
- Reconfigurable antennas and band gap materials. IET Seminar Digest, Vol. 2008(12338)
- Active coating for wind turbine blades. 2008 Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference, LAPC (pp 137-140)
- Plastic THz band-pass filters and applications. IRMMW-THz2007 - Conference Digest of the Joint 32nd International Conference on Infrared and Millimetre Waves, and 15th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics (pp 297-298)
- Tunable active EBG. IET Seminar Digest, Vol. 2007(11961)
- Oblique incidence performance of an active square loop frequency selective surface. IET Seminar Digest, Vol. 2007(11961)
- Antenna radiation pattern control using EBG/AMC surfaces for street furniture applications. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society, AP-S International Symposium (Digest) (pp 4076-4079)
- Active frequency selective surface using PIN diodes. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society, AP-S International Symposium (Digest) (pp 4525-4528)
- Geometric transition absorber with improved low frequency performance. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society, AP-S International Symposium (Digest) (pp 1955-1958)
Datasets
- Dataset for "Direct Antenna Modulation for high-order Phase Shift Keying" in IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.
- An Independently Tunable Tri-band Antenna Design for Concurrent Multi-band Single Chain Radio Receivers.
- Data for LAPC2017 Conference Paper: A low-loss reconfigurable Frequency Selective Surface based antenna for Direct Antenna Modulation.
- Concurrent Multiband Direct RF Sampling Receivers. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 22(1), 550-562.
- Research group
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Electromagnetics, Wireless Hardware & RF Devices
- Teaching activities
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- EEE224 - Communications Electronics
- EEE227 - Communications Electronics
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Senior member of the IEEE
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- IET Technical Networks Communities Committee member
- Research students
Student Degree Status Primary/Secondary Holtby D G PhD Graduated Primary Lee H PhD Graduated Primary Liu H PhD Graduated Primary Roberts J PhD Graduated Primary