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Abshnct-The nature of the inherent narrow bandwidth of conven- antennas [9], [lo]. The method is unique in that it does not
tional microstrip patch antennas is considered. It is observed that, except alter the radiating element itself. Instead, a reactive matching
for single-feed circularly polarized elements, their bandwidth is limited
only by the resonant behavior of the input impedance and not by radia-
network is added to compensate for the rapid frequency vari-
tion pattern or gain variations, which usually are negligible over a mod- ations of the input impedance. The validity of the technique is
erate 10 to 20 percent bandwidth. Therefore, broad-band impedance- based upon the relative frequency insensitivity of the radiation
matching is proposed as a natural solution to increase the bandwidth. pattern and gain characteristics as compared to the resonant
The maximum obtainable bandwidth is calculated using Fanos broad- behavior of the input impedance. This is explained in Section
band matching theory. It is found that by using an optimally designed
impedance-matching network, the bandwidth can be increased by a fac-
11. In Section 111, both the normally obtained bandwidth and
tor of at least 3.9, the exact value depending OD the degree of matching the bandwidth that can be obtained using broad-band match-
required. In view of practical realizations, a transmission-line proto- ing, are calculated. Dividing the latter quantity by the former
type for a proper matching network is developed. Attention is paid to one, a bandwidth-enlargement factor is found which depends
the translation of this prototype network into a practical structure (e.g. only on the bandwidth criterion expressed as a maximum al-
a microstrip or stripline circuit). Practical design examples along with
lowable voltage standing-wave ratio (VSWR). In Section IV, a
experimental results are given which clearly show the validity of the
technique. transmission-line matching-network prototype is derived that
can serve as a basis for practical designs. A complete de-
sign procedure for an impedance-matched microstrip antenna
I. INTRODUCTION
is outlined in Section V. It is indicated that because of ap-
Fig. 6 . Layout of rectangular impedance-matched antenna (antenna #l). Fig. 7. Layout of reference antenna (antenna #2).
Sal 8 M l o g MAG
REF - 2 8 . 0 dB
2 . 0 dB/
t
+ +
+
+
+
-t
Cu - C l a d
efficient measured in these two cases. This characteristic is They do not show any appreciable difference, which proves
almost proportional to the realized gain. It follows that an- that the matching network, although it is coplanar with the
tenna #1 is a more efficient radiator over the 2.832 - 2.988 patch, does not affect the radiation characteristics. It is to be
GHz band and the 3.055 - 3.174 GHz band, whereas antenna observed, however, that only copolar patterns were measured.
#2 is more efficient in between. The maximum difference
in this center band equals 0.61 dB and occurs at 3.026 GHz B . Multilayer Impedance-Matched Square Antenna
(i.e., the frequency of best match of antenna #2). The second design example concerns a multilayer square
Concerning radiation patterns, E- and H-plane cuts for both microstrip antenna with a stripline matching network situ-
antennas have been measured at 2.9, 3.0, and 3.1 GHz [15]. ated underneath the antenna ground plane. A similar antenna
PUES AND VAN DE CAPELLE: INCREASING BANDWIDTH OF MICROSTRIP ANTENNAS 1351
521 B M l o g MAG
REF - 2 5 . 0 dB
2 . 5 dB/
v - 2 9 . 4 8 dB
1
START 2.800000000 GHz
STOP 3.800000000 GHz
Fig. 12. Transmission characteristic of antenna #3 and standard gain horn (antenna #4).
with an underneath microstrip matching network has been de- aided simulation and optimization, adjustments were made to
scribed elsewhere [2 l]. compensate for the different approximations. The measured
The present antenna is shown in Fig. 10. It is a sandwich return loss diagram is shown in Fig. 11. Considering the
structure consisting of (from top to bottom) a 0.5 mm Cu-Clad -16.44 dB (or S = 1.35) level, which is the maximum level
217 substrate bearing the antenna patch, a 6.4 mm Eccofoam in the band of operation, a bandwidth of 324 MHz or 9.9
PP-2 layer, a first metal ground plate (the antenna ground percent is obtained. Using (7) and (15), the unmatched an-
plane), two 1.6 mm Cu-Clad 217 substrate layers bearing the tenna is found to have a bandwidth of only 4.2 percent at
stripline matching netwbrk, and a second bottom ground plate this level. Observe also that a better match than -14 dE3 is
onto which an OSM 203-1 stripline connector is attached. obtained within the design bandwidth of 12 percent.
The overall dimensions (apart from the connector and four The transmission performance is illustrated in Fig. 12.
connecting screws) are 70 mm x 70 mm x 14 mm. This figure shows the transmission coefficient between a
The antenna model parameters were fr = 3.28 GHz, log-periodic dipole array antenna on the one side and the
RO = 33.3 R and Z,1 = 151.5 R (series-resonant case). impedance-matched antenna or a standard gain horn (Narda
Choosing n = 2, b = 12 percent, a2 = 0.3 and Z O = 50 R, Model 644)on the other side. It follows that the realized gain
the design was carried out straightforwardly. Using computer- is about 8 dB over a bandwidth of 12 percent. This high gain
1352 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION, VOL. 37, NO. 1 1 , NOVEMBER 1989
I
, dB
to-polar
-5
-10 dB
-25
tI
Fig. 13. (a) Measured radiation patterns at 3.100 GHz of antenna #3. (b) Measured radiation patterns at 3.300 GHz of antenna #3.
(c) Measured radiation patterns at 3.500 GHz of antenna #3.
PUES AND VAN DE CAPELLE: INCREASING BANDWIDTH OF MICROSTRIP ANTENNAS 1353
(C)
Fig. 13. (Continued.)
value for a single square element is partly due to the delib- of an arbitrarily shaped microstrip patch antenna, ZEEE Trans. An-
erate choice of the horizontal dimensions (70 mm x 70 mm). tennas Propagat., vol. AP-34, pp. 1181-1188, Oct. 1986.
K. S. Fong, H. F. Pues, and M. J. Withers, Wideband multilayer
Mounted on a large ground plane, the gain would be some- coaxial-fed microstrip antenna element, Elactron. Lett., vol. 21, pp.
what less. 497-499, May 23, 1985.
Finally, Fig. 13 shows the E- and H-plane CO-and cross- R. M. Fano, Theoretical limitations on the broadband matching of ar-
bitrary impedances, J. Franklin Inst., vol. 249, nos. 1-2, pp. 57-83
polar patterns at 3.1, 3.3, and 3.5 GHz. These patterns do and 139-154, Jan.-Feb. 1950.
not show any significant change within the band of operation. H. F. Pues and A. R. Van de Capelle, Impedance-matching of mi-
crostrip resonator antennas, in URSZ North Amer. Radio Sci. Meet.
Dig., Quebec, June 1980, p. 189.
VII. CONCLUSION Broad-band microstrip antenna, U.S. Patent 4445 122, Apr. 24,
In this paper, broad-band impedance matching has been 1984.
R. F. Harrington, Time-Harmonic Electromagnetic Fields. New
proposed as a powerful technique to increase the bandwidth of York: McGraw-Hill, 1961, pp. 431-440.
microstrip antennas. The theoretical limitations have been de- K. R. Carver and J. W. Mink, Microstrip antenna technology, ZEEE
scribed and a practical design method for the required match- Trans. Antennas Propagat., vol. AP-29, pp. 2-24, Jan. 1981.
P. C. Sharma and K. C. Gupta, Analysis and optimized design of
ing networks has been outlined. The validity of this design pro- single feed circularly polarized microstrip antennas, ZEEE Trans.
cedure has been illustrated by two representative design exam- Antennas Propagat., vol. AP-31, pp. 949-955, Nov. 1983.
ples. However, it should be stressed that impedance-matching J. S. Lee and W. J. Furlong, An extremely lightweight fuselage-
integrated phased array for airborne applications, ZEEE Trans. An-
is a very general technique and that many other design proce- tennas Propagat., vol. AP-29, pp. 178-182, Jan. 1981.
dures and realization forms could be devised, which possibly H. F. Pues, Study of the bandwidth of microwave integrated antennas:
could yield better results. Development of design models for wideband microstrip antennas (in
Dutch), Ph.D. dissertation, Microwaves and Lasers Div., Catholic
Univ. Louvain, Louvain, Belgium, 1983.
REFERENCES
G. L. Matthaei, L. Young, and E. M. T. Jones, Microwave Filters,
[l] D. M. Pozar, An update on microstrip antenna theory and design Impedance-Matching Networks, and Coupling Structures. New
including some novel feeding techniques, ZEEE Antennas Propagat. York: McGraw-Hill, 1964, sec. 4.09-4.10.
Soc.Newsletter, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 5-9, Oct. 1986. J. M. Griffin and J. R. Forrest, Broadband circular disc microstrip
[2] E. Chang, S. A. Long, and W. F. Richards, An experimental inves- antenna, Electron. Lett., vol. 18, pp. 266-269, Mar. 18, 1982.
tigation of electrically thick rectangular microstrip antennas, ZEEE D. A. Paschen, Practical examples of integral broadband matching of
Trans. Antennas Propagat., vol. AP-34, pp. 767-772, June 1986. microstrip antenna elements, in Proc. 1986 Antenna Appl. Symp.,
[3] C. H. Chen, A. Tulintseff, and R. M. Sorbello, Broadband two-layer Monticello, IL, Sept. 17-19, 1986.
microstrip antenna, in ZEEE Antennas Propagat. Soc. Znt. Symp. H. F. Pues and A. R. Van de Capelle, Wideband impedance-matched
Dig., 1984, pp. 251-254. microstrip resonator antennas, in Inst. Elec. Eng. Conf. Pub. 195
141 G. Kumar and K. C. Gupta, Directly coupled multiple resonator (Antennas and Propagation), pt. 1, pp. 402-405, Apr. 1981.
wideband microstrip antennas, ZEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., -, Accurate transmission-line model for the rectangular microstrip
vol. AP-33, pp. 588-593, June 1985. antenna, Inst. Elec. Eng. P m . , vol. 131, pt. H, pp. 334-340, Dec.
[5] H. Pues, J. Bogaers, R. Pieck, and A. Van de Capelle, Wideband 1984.
quasi-log-periodic microstrip antenna, Inst. Elec. Eng. P m . , vol. H. Pues, A. Van Kauteren, J. Vercruysse, and A. Van de Capelle,
128, pt. H, pp. 159-163, June 1981. Broadband microstrip radar antenna element, in Proc. Znt. Conf.
[6] A. K. Bhattacharyya and R. Garg, Effect of substrate on the efficiency Radar, Paris, May 1984, pp. 298-303.
1354 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION, VOL. 37, NO. 1 1 , NOVEMBER 1989
Hugo F. Pues (S76-M82) was born in Leuven, Antoine R. Van de Capelle (S70-M84) was born
Belgium, on May 2, 1954. He received the degrees in Nazareth, Belgium, in 1946. He received the
of Electromechanical Engineer in 1977 and Doctor M.Sc., Ph.D., and Special Doctors degrees from
in Applied Sciences in 1983, both from the Katho- the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in 1970, 1973,
lieke Universiteit Leuven. and 1979, respectively
His doctoral research focused on bandwidth- In 1970 he joined the Department of Electrical
enhancement techniques for microstrip antennas. In Engineering of the K. U. Leuven, where he is now
1983-1984, he worked for ERA Technology Ltd., a Professor. In 1974 he established a research group
Leatherhead, UK, in the field of antenna design and on antennas, which for the past 15 years has been
numerical analysis of electromagnetic problems. He concentrating on microstrip antennas. The groups
then returned to the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven current research programs involve radio communi-
where he was involved in research work on microstrip antennas and circuits, cation systems with projects on maritime satellite terminals, antenna mea-
nucrowave power applications and numerical analysis. Since January 1987, surement techniques, propagation on high-frequency communication links,
he has worked for Grace N.V., (formerly Emerson & Cuming Europe N.V ), S.S.R.-radar systems and mobile telephone systems. As a Professor at the K.
Westerlo, Belgium, where he is now the R & D manager of the Microwave U. Leuven, he teaches courses on telecommunication systems and antennas
Product Line with interests mainly directed towards computer-aided measure- and propagation.
ment and design of advanced absorbing materials.