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 my BEng degree and PhD degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Sheffield in 1998 and 2003 respectively. Following a research position at BAE SYSTEMS (Stealth materials), between 2001 and 2005, I became a lecturer in communications. I was appointed Professor in 2019.
I am also a senior member of the IEEE. My research interests focus on antennas and metamaterials for a range of applications.
Antennas are used in a multitude of applications and my current interests are in the fundamental aspects of reconfigurable antennas for cellular applications such as 5G and beyond 5G (B5G).
This includes frequency agile antennas for both handsets and basestation transceiver stations (BTS). I am also carrying out research into direct antenna modulation which has applications in 5G, B5G and the internet of things (IoT).
Metamaterials are of interest globally for their unique properties that are often not found in nature. My research group are currently applying these structures for applications such as medical resonance imaging (MRI) to improve image quality for clinical diagnosis, and antenna beam reconfigurability for cellular and wireless communications.
I also have interests in general electromagnetic material characterisation which cover basic material properties, full field design, manufacture, and measurement of scattering.
I have a range of measurement capabilities, including waveguide, freespace reflection/transmission, and a 3D radar cross section (RCS) facility.
- Qualifications
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- 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
- Novel radar absorbing material (RAM) design
- Radar cross-section management
- 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.
- 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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Previous PhD students
- Holtby DG
- Lee H
- Liu H
- Roberts J
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Professor in Electromagnetic Structure Design
- Teaching Strategy Director
- 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