Chapter 3

Coupling to DRAs
Chapter 2 examined the basic DRAs and presented design equations for predicting
the resonant frequency and radiation Q-factor for the commonly used lower order
modes. The models for deriving these equations assumed the DRAs were in
isolation or mounted on an infinite perfect conducting ground plane and did not
account for the feeding mechanisms used to excite the DRAs. The selection of the
feed and that of its location both play an important role in determining which
modes are excited. This, in turn, will determine the input impedance and radiation
characteristics of the DRAs. The coupling mechanism can also have a significant
impact on the resonant frequency and Q-factor, which the previous equations fail
to predict. This chapter begins with a brief review of coupling theory and an
examination of the internal fields within rectangular and cylindrical DRAs. A
knowledge of the internal field configuration is essential for understanding how
the various feeds can excite different modes within the DRA. The more common
feeds are then surveyed and examples provided to highlight practical design
considerations.
3.1 COUPLING COEFFICIENTS
For most practical applications, power must be coupled into or out of the DRA
through one or more ports. (One notable exception is the DRA reflectarray, which
will be discussed in Chapter 9.) The type of port used and the location of the port
with respect to the DRA will determine which mode will be excited and how much
power will be coupled between the port and the antenna. The mode or modes
49

50

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

generated, the amount of coupling, and the frequency response of the impedance
are all important in determining the performance of the DRA. Although these
quantities are difficult to determine without using numerical methods, a great deal
of insight can be obtained by knowing the approximate field distributions of the
modes of the isolated DRA and by making use of the Lorentz Reciprocity
Theorem and some coupling theory borrowed from resonator circuits [1].
When coupling to a DRA, the source can typically be modeled as either an
electric or magnetic current, and the amount of coupling, , between the source
and the fields within the DRA can be determined by applying the reciprocity
theorem with the appropriate boundary conditions. For an electric source Js

(EDRA Js )dV

(3.1)

(H DRA M s )dV

(3.2)

and for a magnetic source Ms

where V is the volume occupied by the source within which the electric and/or
magnetic currents exist, while EDRA and HDRA are the electric and magnetic fields
within the DRA. Equation (3.1) states that in order to achieve strong coupling
using an electric current source (like a probe), then that source should be located in
an area of strong electric fields within the DRA. On the other hand, to achieve
strong coupling using a magnetic current source (like a loop or an aperture) then
from (3.2) the source should be located in an area of strong magnetic fields. It is
thus necessary to have a good understanding of the internal field structures of the
isolated DRA to determine where the feed should be placed to excite the desired
mode. The fields within cylindrical and rectangular DRAs will be examined in the
next section.
In addition to transferring power, the coupling mechanism to the DRA has a
loading effect that will influence the Q-factor of the DRA. An external Q-factor
(Qext) can be defined in terms of the coupling factor, :
Qext =

(3.3)

and the loaded Q-factor (QL) of the DRA can then be expressed as:
QL =

1
1
+
Q Qext

Q
1+

(3.4)

Coupling to DRAs

51

where Q is the unloaded Q-factor. Maximum power is transferred between the

coupling port and the DRA when the coupling factor is 1. This condition is known
as critical coupling. When < 1, the DRA is said to be undercoupled, while when
> 1, the DRA is overcoupled. The more common coupling methods to DRAs
will be presented later in this chapter.
3.2 FIELDS WITHIN RECTANGULAR AND CYLINDRICAL DRAS
For the rectangular DRA shown in Figure 3.1, with dimensions w > b or d, the
lowest order mode will be TEx11. Using the dielectric waveguide model, this leads
to the following fields within the DRA [2]:
Hx =
Hy =

(k

2
y

+ kz2

j o

)cos(k x) cos(k y)cos(k z)

x

(ky kx )sin(k x)sin k y cos(k z)

(y ) z
x
j

(3.5)

(3.6)

Hz =

(kz kx ) sin k
j o

xx

) cos(ky y)sin(kz z)

Ex = 0

(3.7)
(3.8)

( )
Ez = k y cos(kx x)sin(ky y)cos(kz z )
Ey = kz cos(kx x ) cos ky y sin(kz z )

(3.9)
(3.10)

where, as was shown in Chapter 2:

k x tan(k x d / 2) =

( r 1)ko2 kx2

(3.11)

and

kx2 + ky2 + kz2 = r ko2

(3.12)

The ejt time dependence is suppressed in the above equations. Assuming magnetic
walls along air-dielectric interfaces parallel to the z-axis, then:

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

52
ky =

m
n
and k z =
,
w
b

where m, n are positive integers.

The value can be defined as the fraction of a half-cycle of the field variation in
the z-direction and is given by:

kx
/d

(3.13)

For the lowest order mode (m = n = 1), a sketch of the field configuration is shown
in Figure 3.1. The Hx component of the magnetic field is dominant along the
center of the DRA, while the E-fields (predominantly Ey and Ez) circulate around
the Hx component. These fields are similar to those produced by a short magnetic
dipole. A plot of the relative amplitudes of the electric and magnetic fields in the
x-y plane of the DRA is shown in Figure 3.2. A knowledge of the relative
amplitudes of these fields as a function of location within the DRA is important
for determining where to place the feed mechanism to efficiently excite the DRA.

Figure 3.1

Sketch of the fields for the TEx1 mode of the rectangular DRA.

Coupling to DRAs

53

Relative Field Strength

Ez
Hx
0

-1
-w/2

Figure 3.2

+w/2

0
y (at z = 0)
x

Relative field strength of the TE

11

mode within the rectangular DRA.

Higher-order modes of rectangular DRAs can also be excited for certain

aspect ratios. Figure 3.3 shows sketches of the electric fields of some of these
x
x
modes. The TE 31 and TE 13 modes will produce radiation patterns similar to the
x
TE 11 mode, having a peak in the broadside direction (along the z-axis), while the
x
x
TE 21 mode will have a null at broadside. (Note that the TE 12 mode cannot exist
for the case of the DRA mounted on the ground plane, due to the boundary
x
condition that forces the tangential E-field to zero at z = 0, since the TE 12 would
require the E-field to be maximum at that location.) By properly combining one or
more of the higher-order modes with the fundamental mode, a wider bandwidth or
dual-band operation can be achieved [3].
The fields of a cylindrical DRA operating in the TE01 mode can be
approximated by [4-6]:
H z J o (r ) cos
H r J1(r )sin

2h

2h

(3.14)
(3.15)

54

Figure 3.3

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

Sketches of the E-fields for selected higher-order modes within the rectangular DRA.

E J1(r ) cos

2h

E z = Er = H = 0

(3.16)
(3.17)

where Jo( ) and J1( ) are Bessel functions of the first kind, and is the
solution to Jo(a) = 0.
The TM01 fields are similar to those of the TE01 with the magnetic and
electric field components interchanged. For the HE11 mode of the cylindrical
DRA, the field components can be expressed as:
Ez J1(r ) cos

2h

cos
sin

(3.18)

Coupling to DRAs

Er

cos
J1(r )

sin
z
sin
(r )
2h

E J1(r )sin
H r J1(r ) cos
H

2h

2h

sin
cos
sin
cos

cos
J1(r )

cos
z
sin
(r )
2h

Hz 0

55

(3.19)
(3.20)
(3.21)
(3.22)
(3.23)

where is the solution to J1(a) = 0. The choice of cos or sin depends on the
location of the feed.
The fields for these three modes are sketched in Figure 3.4. Examples of the
relative field strengths for these modes are shown in Figures 3.5 and 3.6. The
actual values will depend on the dielectric constant and radius of the DRAs;
however, these figures are useful for visualizing the locations of high electric and
magnetic fields within the DRA for the different modes, to assist in determining
what type of feed is best suited and where the feed should be located to optimize
the DRA excitation. The following sections will examine the more conventional
coupling mechanisms in closer detail.
3.3 APERTURE COUPLING
One common method of exciting a DRA is through an aperture in the ground
plane upon which the DRA is placed. Figure 3.7 shows some of the aperture
shapes that have been used for exciting DRAs. The small rectangular slot is
probably the most widely used aperture [7-14]. By keeping the slot dimensions
electrically small, the amount of radiation spilling beneath the ground plane can be
minimized. Annular slots have also been used for exciting cylindrical DRAs [15],
while cross-shaped and C-shaped slots are used to excite circular polarization [1618]. The aperture can itself be fed by a transmission line (either microstrip or
coaxial) or a waveguide [19, 20], as shown in Figure 3.7. Aperture coupling offers
the advantage of having the feed network located below the ground plane,
isolating the radiating aperture from any unwanted coupling or spurious radiation
from the feed.

56

Figure 3.4

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

Sketch of the cylindrical DRA field configurations.

Coupling to DRAs

57

Relative Field Strength

0.8

0.6

0.4
Hz (Ez)
E (H)

0.2

0
Figure 3.5

DRA Radius (r)

Example of relative field strength of the TE01 (TM01) mode in the cylindrical DRA.

Relative Field Strength

0.8

0.6
Hr
Ez

0.4

0.2

Figure 3.6

DRA Radius (r)

Example of the relative field strength of the HE11 mode in the cylindrical DRA.

58

Figure 3.7

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

Various slot apertures.

The electric fields within a rectangular slot are sketched in Figure 3.8. For
coupling purposes, the slot can be considered as an equivalent magnetic current
whose direction is parallel to the slot length. To achieve strong coupling to the
DRA, the aperture should be located in a region of strong magnetic fields, as
indicated by (3.2). Figure 3.9 shows a rectangular slot feeding a rectangular DRA.
x
The orientation of the slot will excite the TE 11 mode of the DRA [8]. Centering the
DRA over the slot will ensure strong coupling to the internal magnetic fields. Some
degree of impedance matching can be achieved by offsetting the DRA from the slot
center. A rectangular slot can also be used to excite the HE11 mode of a cylindrical

Coupling to DRAs

59

DRA [12] or the TE01 mode of a split-cylinder DRA, as shown in Figures 3.10 and
3.11 [9, 12].
Feeding the aperture with a microstrip transmission line is the most common
approach, since printed technology is easy to fabricate. Microstrip lines also offer a

Figure 3.8

Equivalent magnetic current for slot apertures.

Figure 3.9

Slot aperture coupling to a rectangular DRA.

60

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

degree of impedance matching not available with coaxial lines or waveguides. As

shown in Figure 3.12, the microstrip line can be extended by a distance s beyond
the slot. This extension behaves like an open-circuit stub, whose admittance is in
parallel with the admittance of the slot. By adjusting the length s of the stub, the
reactive component of the slot admittance can be reduced (and, in theory,
completely cancelled at the design frequency), resulting in an improved impedance
match to the microstrip line. The techniques for aperture coupling to DRAs are
similar to those of a microstrip patch antenna, and as a rule of thumb, the stub
length is chosen to be s = g/4, where g is the guided wavelength of the microstrip
line. The slot length ls and width ws will control the amount of coupling from the
microstrip line to the DRA. The area of the slot should, in general, be kept as small
as possible to avoid excessive radiation beneath the ground plane. Also, if the
aperture is too large, it will significantly load the DRA, and the resonant frequency
will shift compared to the theoretical value obtained using the models in Chapter 2.
The aperture introduces an air gap beneath the DRA, which will then no longer see
a continuous ground plane. If the aperture is too large, the previous assumptions
using image theory to double the height of the DRA become less accurate,
resulting in larger errors in the predicted resonant frequency and Q-factor.

Figure 3.10

Slot aperture coupling to a cylindrical DRA.

Coupling to DRAs

Figure 3.11

61

Slot aperture coupling to a split-cylindrical DRA.

Computational electromagnetics methods, such as the finite element method,

the method of moments, or the finite-difference time domain method are typically
used to determine the input impedance of slot-fed DRAs. Several commercial
software packages are available for analyzing three-dimensional electromagnetic
problems, which can be used to predict the input impedance with a reasonably
high degree of accuracy. These software tools are better suited for analysis than
design, since the computational time can be lengthy, especially for high values of
the dielectric constant. Although there are no simple equations for designing the
slot dimensions given the various antenna parameters, the following guidelines can
be used as a starting point for rectangular slots:
1) The slot length ls is chosen large enough so that sufficient coupling
exists between the DRA and the feed line but small enough so that it
does not resonate within the band of operation, which usually leads
to a significant radiated back lobe. A good starting value is [10, 21]:
ls =

0.4 o

(3.24)

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

62

Figure 3.12

Microstrip-fed rectangular slot.

where

e =

r + s
2

(3.25)

and r and s are the dielectric constants of the DRA and substrate,
respectively.
2) A fairly narrow slot width is usually chosen to avoid a large backlobe
component. A reasonable choice is:
w s = 0.2l s

(3.26)

At high frequencies, (3.26) might result in a very narrow slot that

may be difficult to fabricate due to etching limitations. At these
frequencies, a wider slot width can be used.
3) The stub extension s is selected so that its reactance cancels out that
of the slot aperture. It is generally initially chosen to be:
s=

g
4

where g is the guided wave in the substrate.

(3.27)

Coupling to DRAs

63

The amount of coupling actually achieved using the above guidelines is not always
as high as desired. Oftentimes the coupling can be significantly improved simply
by slightly offsetting the DRA with respect to the slot. This solution requires
neither a second design iteration nor the fabrication of a new circuit and is an
attractive method for obtaining a good impedance match [2].
An example of a slot feed for a rectangular DRA design at 5.5 GHz with an
8% fractional impedance bandwidth is now illustrated. To design the DRA, the
procedure outlined in Section 2.3.2 can be followed. Using a material with a
dielectric constant of r = 10, the following DRA dimensions were chosen:
w = 14 mm, and d = h = 8 mm, as shown in Figure 3.13. Substituting these values
into (2.19) the theoretical resonant frequency is 5.6 GHz and from (2.24), the
radiation Q-factor is Qrad = 7.9, which translates to a fractional bandwidth of 8.9%.
The microstrip line was printed on a substrate have a dielectric constant of
s = 3.38 and thickness of 0.5 mm. Using (3.25) the effective dielectric constant is
e = 6.7, from (3.24) the slot length is ls = 8.4 mm, and from (3.26) the slot width
is ws = 1.7 mm. The stub length extension, from (3.27) is s = 8.3 mm, where a
guided wavelength g = 33.2 mm was calculated for the microstrip line shown in
Figure 3.13. Based on these initial calculations, several feed circuits were
fabricated with different combinations of slot length (ls) and stub length (s). For
these prototype circuits, a somewhat narrower dimension was chosen for the slot
width (ws = 1.0 mm) to help minimize the potential for high backlobes.

Figure 3.13

Design example of a rectangular DRA fed by a rectangular slot.

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

64

Figure 3.14 shows the effects of varying the slot length for a fixed stub length of
s = 5 mm. Increasing the slot length from 8 to 12 mm results in an increase in the
10-dB return loss bandwidth from 6.3% to 13.3% as well as an upward shift in the
frequency response. The increase in bandwidth might come at the expense of
higher backlobes, if there is increased radiation from the longer slots.
The effect of varying the stub length from s = 3 mm to 10 mm is seen in
Figure 3.15, where the slot length was kept constant at ls = 10 mm. A significant
amount of frequency tuning can be achieved by adjusting the stub length.

|S11| (dB)

-5

-10

ls = 8 mm
ls = 10 mm
ls = 12 mm

-15

-20

-25
4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

Frequency (GHz)
Figure 3.14

Effects of slot length the DRA return loss (s = 5 mm).

6.5

7.0

Coupling to DRAs

65

As the stub length is reduced from 10 mm down to 3 mm, there is an upward shift
in the frequency response and an increase in the 10-dB return loss bandwidth.
Trimming the stub length could thus be a practical method for tuning the return
loss response of the DRA. Instead of fabricating several microstrip circuits with
different stub lengths, a single circuit could be fabricated with a stub length
somewhat larger than the value obtained using (3.27). If the desired impedance
response is not obtained, the stub could then be trimmed to improve the results.
0

|S11| (dB)

-5

-10
s = 3 mm
s = 5 mm
s = 7 mm

-15

s = 10 mm

-20

-25
4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

Frequency (GHz)
Figure 3.15

Effects of stub length on the DRA return loss (ls = 10 mm).

6.5

7.0

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

66

A second method for tuning the impedance response is to offset the location of the
DRA with respect to the slot. Figure 3.16 shows the change in the impedance
response that occurs by offsetting the DRA a few millimeters from the center of
the slot. The response is shifted down in frequency by a significant amount,
without an appreciable narrowing of the impedance bandwidth. The results of
these measurements help confirm that the procedure outlined above for
determining the slot and stub dimensions is a useful design tool for slot-coupled
feeds for DRAs.
0

|S11| (dB)

-5

-10

-15

Centered
Offset

-20

-25
4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5
Frequency (GHz)

Figure 3.16

Effects of offsetting the DRA on return loss.

6.0

6.5

7.0

Coupling to DRAs

67

3.4 PROBE COUPLING

Another common method for coupling to DRAs is with a probe, as shown in
Figure 3.17 [22-28]. The probe usually consists of the center pin of a coaxial
transmission line that extends through the ground plane. The center pin can also be
soldered to a flat metal strip, that is placed adjacent to the DRA [29], whose length
and width can be adjusted to improve the impedance match. Instead of a coaxial
line, the flat metal strip can also be connected to a microstrip line [30-32]. For
coupling purposes, the probe can be considered as a vertical electric current, as
shown in Figure 3.17 and, from (3.1), it should be located in a region of the DRA
having high electric fields to achieve strong coupling. The probe can either be

Figure 3.17

Vertical probe sources.

located adjacent to the DRA or can be embedded within it. The amount of
coupling can be optimized by adjusting the probe height and the DRA location.
Also, depending on the location of the probe, various modes can be excited.
A probe located adjacent to (or slightly inset into) a rectangular DRA, as
shown in Figure 3.18, will excite the TEx11 mode. Similarly, the HE11 mode of a

68

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

cylindrical DRA or the TE01 mode of the split cylinder can be excited with a
probe located adjacent to (or slightly inset into) the DRA, as in Figures 3.19 and
3.20. For a probe located in the center of a cylindrical (or ring) DRA, the TM01
mode is excited, as shown in Figure 3.21. One advantage of coaxial probe
excitation is the direct coupling into a 50- system without the need for a
matching network. Probes are useful at lower frequencies where aperture-coupling
may not be practical due to the large size of the slot required.
The probe length is generally chosen to be less than the height of the DRA, to
avoid probe radiation. (A notable exception is the hybrid monopole-DRA,
described in Section 4.5.2, where the probe is actually designed to act as both a
feed for the DRA and a monopole radiator.) Rigorous analyses for probe-fed
hemispherical and cylindrical DRAs have been carried out, showing the effects of
both the probe position and length on the input impedance and resonant frequency

Figure 3.18

Probe coupling to a rectangular DRA.

Coupling to DRAs

69

of the DRA [33-35]; however, there are no simple equations to design the required
probe height for a given set of DRA dimensions and dielectric constant. In terms
of practicality, locating the probe feed adjacent to the DRA is preferred since it
does not require drilling into the DRA. (This, of course, cannot be avoided for the
TM01 mode of cylindrical DRAs where the probe must be at the center of the
DRA.) If the center conductor of a coaxial cable is used as the probe, one approach
is to begin with a probe height slightly taller than that of the DRA, then trimming
the height until the desired match is achieved. Similarly, if a flat metallic strip is
used, it is recommended to start with a taller, wider strip which can be then
trimmed for impedance tuning.

Figure 3.19

Probe coupling to the HE11 mode of the cylindrical DRA.

70

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

Figure 3.20

Probe coupling to split-cylindrical DRAs.

Figure 3.21

Probe coupling to the TM01 mode of the cylindrical DRA.

Coupling to DRAs

71

3.5 MICROSTRIP LINE COUPLING

A common method for coupling to dielectric resonators in microwave circuits is
by proximity coupling to microstrip lines. Figure 3.22 shows this feeding
technique applied to DRAs [36]. Microstrip coupling can be used to excite the
TEx11 mode of the rectangular DRA or the HE11 mode of the cylindrical DRA, as
shown in Figure 3.23. This sketches the magnetic fields in the DRA and the
equivalent short horizontal magnetic dipole mode.

Figure 3.22

Microstrip line coupling to DRAs.

72

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

The amount of coupling from the microstrip line to the DRA can be controlled
to a certain degree by adjusting s in Figure 3.22, which represents the spacing
between the DRA and the line for the side-coupled case or the length of the line
underneath the DRA for the direct-coupled case. A more dominant parameter
affecting the degree of coupling is the dielectric constant of the DRA. For higher
values (r > 20), strong coupling is achieved; however, the maximum amount of
coupling is significantly reduced if the dielectric constant of the DRA is lowered.
This can be problematic if low dielectric constant values are required for obtaining
wideband operation. For series-fed linear arrays of DRAs (discussed in Chapter 9),
the lower level of coupling may not be an impediment, since each DRA element
usually only requires coupling a small amount from the microstrip feed line [3738].

Figure 3.23

Fields and equivalent radiation models of microstrip line-coupled DRAs.

Coupling to DRAs

73

3.5.1 The Multisegment DRA

As mentioned in Section 3.5, to achieve strong coupling between the microstrip
line feed and the DRA, the dielectric constant of the DRA needs to be relatively
high (usually r > 20). Since the radiation Q-factor is proportional to the dielectric
constant, the bandwidth of these DRAs is typically narrow. For wider-band
applications, DRAs with lower values of dielectric constant are required, but only
a small amount of coupling is achievable between the microstrip line and the
DRA, resulting in poor radiation efficiency. One solution to overcoming the weak
coupling of DRAs with lower dielectric constants is the multisegment DRA [3940]. The multisegment dielectric resonator antenna (MSDRA) consists of a
rectangular DRA of low permittivity under which one or more thin segments of
different dielectric constant substrates are inserted, as shown in the exploded view
of Figure 3.24. The inserts serve to transform the impedance of the DRA to that of
the microstrip line by concentrating the fields underneath the DRA; this
significantly improves the coupling performance. In general, more than one insert
can be added to obtain the required impedance match, but to reduce the
complexity of the fabrication process and ultimately the cost, it is desirable to use
only a single insert, as shown in Figure 3.25.

Figure 3.24

Exploded view of the multisegment DRA.

74

Figure 3.25

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

MSDRA with a single insert.

The MSDRA can be designed using the equations for the rectangular DRA in
Section 2.4, with some modifications. To account for the effect of the insert and of
the microstrip substrate on the resonant frequency of the MSDRA, the dielectric
waveguide model equations are modified by including an effective permittivity
(eff) and effective height (Heff). Adopting a simple static capacitance model, the
effective permittivity of the MSDRA is calculated using:

eff =

H eff
h / r + t / i + s / s

(3.28)

where r, i, and s are the dielectric constants of the DRA, insert, and substrate,
respectively. The effective height (Heff) is simply the sum of the DRA height (h),
insert thickness (t), and substrate thickness (s):
H eff = h + t + s

(3.29)

Equations (3.28) and (3.29) are substituted into (2.19), with eff replacing r and
2Heff replacing b.
The selection of the insert thickness and dielectric constant should be based
on two considerations. The first is to ensure that the insert itself does not radiate.
The dielectric waveguide model equations can be used with the insert parameters
to ensure that the resonant frequency of the insert is well above the desired
frequency of operation. The second consideration relates to the impedance
bandwidth obtained by the various inserts. In general, the higher the dielectric
constant of the insert, the narrower the impedance bandwidth, for a given insert
thickness. MSDRAs with higher dielectric constant inserts also show a greater

Coupling to DRAs

75

sensitivity to their position with respect to the open end of the microstrip line.
Since one of the objectives of using the MSDRA is to obtain a wide impedance
bandwidth, the insert dielectric constant should be chosen accordingly. This places
an upper bound on permittivity. Based on the investigations carried out in [39], a
set of guidelines was proposed for designing the MSDRA.
(1) Determine the dimensions (w, h, d ) of the DRA, using the dielectric
waveguide model equations for the desired resonant frequency and
radiation Q-factor. The dielectric constant of the DRA should be
chosen within the range of approximately 10 r 12 for wideband
operation.
(2) Choose an insert dielectric constant in the range of 20 i 40 and
an insert thickness (t) such that 0.1 < T < 0.3 (where T = t/(t+h)).
Ensure that the resonant frequency of the isolated insert is well above
the desired frequency of operation by substituting the insert
parameters into the dielectric waveguide model equations.
(3) Estimate the resonant frequency of this MSDRA structure by using
(2.19) with the effective dielectric constant (eff) and effective height
(Heff), based on the insert parameters chosen in (2). The insert
parameters or the DRA dimensions might require some adjustment if
there is a significant shift in the desired resonant frequency.
(4) Once fabricated, some experimental optimization may be required to
maximize the coupling. The simplest form of optimization is done by
adjusting the position of the MSDRA with respect to the open end of
the microstrip line. If this is not sufficient, a second iteration of the
MSDRA parameters may be required.
Using these guidelines, several MSDRA designs have been carried out at various
frequency bands, achieving impedance bandwidths of up to about 20% [39]. For
the single insert case, an empirical study has led to design guidelines for the
optimum values of the dielectric constant and thickness [41]:

i =
t=

o r
Zo
c
4 fo i

(3.30)
(3.31)

where o is the intrinsic impedance of free space, Zo is the characteristic

impedance of the transmission line, c is the speed of light and fo is the center
frequency of the DRA. Arrays of MSDRAs will be investigated in Chapter 9.

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

76

The effects of changing the position of the MSDRA with respect to the open
circuit of the microstrip transmission line can be seen in the example shown in
Figure 3.26. The frequency response of the return loss was measured for various
positions of the MSDRA, such that the stub extension (ls) ranged from +3 mm to
-3 mm, where the positive values indicate that the stub extends past the MSDRA
while the negative values indicate that the MSDRA extends past the end of the
open circuit. The measured return loss curves for the various positions are overlaid
in Figure 3.27.

Figure 3.26

Effects of the microstrip stub length on the MSDRA return loss.

0

|S11| (dB)

-5

-10

-15

s = -3 mm
s = -2 mm
s = -1 mm
s = 0 mm
s = +1 mm
s = +2 mm
s = +3 mm

-20

-25

Figure 3.27

9
10
Frequency (GHz)

Return loss response as a function of stub length for the MSDRA.

11

12

Coupling to DRAs

77

By simply moving the position of the MSDRA with respect to the open, the return
loss can be tuned for a broadband response. For this particular case, the position
with (ls = 0) offered the widest frequency response. In general, either a positive or
a negative value for ls could result in the widest response. The length of the stub
can also be used to slightly shift the frequency response for fine tuning.
3.6 COPLANAR COUPLING
Coupling to DRAs can also be achieved by using coplanar feeds with some
examples shown in Figure 3.28 [42-48]. Open-circuit coplanar waveguides can be
used to directly feed DRAs similar to the open-circuit microstrip lines examined
earlier. Additional control for impedance matching can be achieved by adding
stubs or loops at the end of the line. Figure 3.29 shows a cylindrical DRA coupled
to a coplanar loop. The coupling level can be adjusted by positioning the DRA
over the loop. The coupling behavior of the coplanar loop is similar to that of the
coaxial probe, but the loop offers the advantage of being nonobtrusive. By moving
the loop from the edge of the DRA to the center, one can couple into either the
HE11 mode or the TE01 mode of the cylindrical DRA [42]. As with aperture
coupling, the dimensions of the coplanar feed should be chosen large enough to
ensure proper coupling, but small enough to avoid excessive radiation in the
backlobe.

Figure 3.28

Various coplanar feeds for coupling to DRAs.

78

Figure 3.29

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

Coplanar loop coupling to a cylindrical DRA.

3.7 DIELECTRIC IMAGE GUIDE COUPLING

The final method of coupling to DRAs presented in this chapter is by way of a
dielectric image guide, as shown in Figure 3.30. Dielectric image guides offer
advantages over microstrips at millimeter-wave frequencies, since they do not
suffer as severely from conductor losses. As with microstrip lines, the amount of
coupling to the DRA is generally quite small, especially for DRAs with lower
dielectric constants, although it may be possible to increase the coupling by
operating the guide closer to the cut-off frequency. The dielectric image guide is
thus best utilized as a series feed to a linear array of DRAs. It will be examined in
Chapter 9 [38, 49, 50].

Coupling to DRAs

Figure 3.30

79

Dielectric image guide feed for DRAs.

3.8 SURVEY OF ANALYTICAL METHODS

One important parameter in designing a feed to excite the DRA is the input
impedance. Knowledge of the input impedance as a function of frequency is
needed to determine the bandwidth of operation and for matching the antenna to
the circuit. In this chapter, guidelines were given for the various coupling
mechanisms to help obtain a good impedance match that did not rely on a
knowledge of the DRA input impedance. These guidelines offer a good starting
point for the design, but do not allow for precise designs if specific impedances are
required. Unfortunately, there are no simple closed-form expressions for
predicting the input impedance of the DRA when excited by a particular feed and
rigorous analytical or numerical techniques are required. This section provides a
brief survey of some of the techniques that have been used to predict the input
impedance for DRAs excited by the various feeds.

80

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

3.8.1 Green's Function Analysis

For a probe-fed DRA, the input impedance (Zin) can be determined using the
following equation:
Z in =

1
I o2

so

(E J s )dS

(3.32)

where E represents the electric fields of the DRA, Js is the applied source current
density on the probe, Io is the magnitude of the current on the probe, and the
integral is carried out over the surface So of the probe. The electric fields of the
DRA will, in turn, depend on the source excitation, and are determined using:
E=

so

(G J s )dS

(3.33)

where G represents Green's function for the DRA. Thus the determination of the
input impedance requires a knowledge of Green's function of the DRA. Using
some simplifying assumptions about a single-mode operation and the currents on
the probe, the Green's function for a hemispherical DRA was first derived in [51]
and was then used to predict the input impedance of the probe-fed DRA operating
in the TE111 mode. Moderately good agreement was achieved between the
predicted and measured input impedance. More rigorous derivations soon
followed [52-53] which led to more accurate predictions. This technique was also
applied to a probe-fed hemispherical DRA operating in the TM101 mode [54], as
well as other variations of hemispherical DRA geometries [55-57]. The input
impedance of conformal strip feeds [58] and aperture feeds [59-62] can also be
analyzed using Green's function approach. The advantage to this technique is the
relatively fast computation time required to obtain the input impedance. It is,
therefore, a useful method for analyzing the effects of altering probe dimensions
and probe location and can be used for optimizing the input impedance. The main
drawback is its limitation to hemispherical DRA geometries, due to the fact that
Green's function has only been determined for DRAs of hemispherical shape. For
other DRA shapes, different analytical techniques are required.
3.8.2 Frequency Domain Analysis
Two common frequency domain techniques that have been used to analyze DRAs
are the method of moments (MOM) and the finite element method (FEM). The
MOM involves discretizing the antenna into a number of small segments and
solving for a set of unknown coefficients, each coefficient representing the current
on one segment due to a known incident field [63]. Once the currents are
determined, the input impedance of the antenna can then be calculated. The MOM
was first developed for wire or metal antennas of arbitrary shape, but can be

Coupling to DRAs

81

extended to include dielectric materials by introducing equivalent currents. By

using the MOM, analysis of DRAs is not limited to a hemispherical shape, and the
technique can be used to also analyze simple cylindrical and rectangular DRA
shapes [63-73]. Determining the DRA input impedance using the MOM technique
will require more computer memory and time than applying Green's function,
since the DRA must usually be finely segmented to obtain an accurate solution
(especially when they are made of high dielectric constants). The MOM technique
is therefore not as convenient a tool for optimizing the DRA performance.
The FEM is a second frequency domain technique and can be used to analyze
DRAs of arbitrary shape. Similar to the MOM, it involves a discretization of the
geometry (usually using small tetrahedrons), but whereas in the MOM only the
DRA and the ground plane require segmentation, in the FEM technique, the entire
volume surrounding the DRA must also be discretized, thereby increasing the
computational size of the problem. The advantage of the FEM is that it does not
require the formulation of equivalent currents and can thus be readily applied to
arbitrary shapes. Another advantage of the FEM is its availability as commercial
software where graphical user interfaces are provided to simplify the geometrical
definition of the problem. Examples of the use of the FEM to analyze DRAs can
be found in [74-76]. In Chapter 6, the FEM is used to determine the effects of a
finite ground plane on the radiation patterns of a DRA.
3.8.3 Time Domain Analysis Techniques
Two time domain techniques that have been applied to analyzing DRAs are the
finite difference time domain (FDTD) method and the transmission line method
(TLM). Just as with the FEM, these time domain techniques require the entire
volume around the DRA to be discretized and thus can be memory and time
intensive. For the FDTD and TLM methods, small cubes are used for
discretization, instead of tetrahedrons, and care must be taken to properly model
curved geometries, due to the stair-stepping effect. Time domain techniques use a
wideband pulse to excite the DRA, and by transforming the solution into the
frequency domain, the input impedance can be determined over a wide frequency
range. For the frequency domain techniques, the problem would have to be
resimulated at every frequency of interest and obtaining the impedance response
over a broad frequency range could be very time consuming. Commercial software
has also been developed for the FDTD and TLM techniques, eliminating the
necessity for designers to develop their own codes. Examples of DRAs analyzed
using time domain methods can be found in [77-86]. Again, as with the frequency
domain methods, the time domain methods are good tools for analyzing the
performance of a given DRA geometry, but are less useful for optimizing the
performance of DRAs. However, with the continual increase in the speed and
memory of computers, it may not be long before these methods can also serve as
optimization tools, providing solutions within reasonable times.

82

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

References

[1]

Collin, R.E., Foundations for Microwave Engineering, New York: McGraw Hill, 1966.

[2]

Mongia, R.K., and A. Ittipiboon, "Theoretical and Experimental Investigations on Rectangular

Dielectric Resonator Antennas," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 45, No. 9,
Sept. 1997, pp. 1,348-1,356.

[3]

Bit-Babik, G., C. Di Nallo, and A. Faraone, "Multimode Dielectric Resonator Antenna of Very
High Permittivity," IEEE Antennas & Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 2004, Monterey, CA,
Vol. 2, pp. 1,383-1,386.

[4]

Sethares, J.C., and J. Naumann, "Design of Microwave Dielectric Resonators," IEEE

Transactions on Microwave Theory & Techniques, Vol. 14, No. 1, Jan. 1966, pp. 2-7.

[5]

Verplanken, M., and J. van Bladel, "The Magnetic-Dipole Resonance of Ring Resonators of Very
High Permittivity," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory & Techniques, Vol. 27, No. 4, April
1979, pp. 328-332.

[6]

Kajfez, D., and P. Guillon, (eds.), Dielectric Resonators, Dedham, MA: Artech House, 1986.

[7]

Simons, R.N., and R.Q. Lee, "Effect of Parasitic Dielectric Resonators on CPW/ApertureCoupled Dielectric Resonator Antennas," IEE Proceedings Part-H, Vol. 140, Oct. 1993, pp. 336338.

[8]

Ittipiboon, A., et al., "Aperture Fed Rectangular and Triangular Dielectric Resonators for Use as
Magnetic Dipole Antennas," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 29, No. 23, Nov. 1993, pp. 2,0012,002.

[9]

Mongia, R.K., et al., "A Half-Split Cylindrical Dielectric Resonator Antenna Using Slot
Coupling," Microwave and Guided Wave Letters, Vol. 3, No. 2, Feb. 1993, pp. 38-39.

[10] Leung, K.W., et al., "Input Impedance of Aperture Coupled Hemispherical Dielectric Resonator
Antenna," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 29, No. 13, March 1993, pp. 1,165-1,167.
[11] Leung, K.W., and K.M. Luk, "Radiation Characteristics of Aperture-Coupled Hemispherical
Dielectric Resonator Antenna," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 7, No. 14, Oct.
1994, pp. 677-679.
[12] Junker, G.P., A.A. Kishk, and A.W. Glisson, "Input Impedance of an Aperture Coupled Dielectric
Resonator Antenna," IEEE Antennas & Propagation Symposium Digest, AP-S 1994, Seattle, WA,
Vol. 2, pp. 748-751.
[13] Kishk, A.A., et al., "Slot-Excitation of the Dielectric Disk Radiator," IEEE Transactions on
Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 43, No. 2, Feb. 1995, pp. 198-201.
[14] Lo, H.Y., et al., "Low Profile Equilateral-Triangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna of Very High
Permittivity," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 35, No. 25, Dec. 1999, pp. 2,164-2,166.
[15] Leung, K.W., et al., "Annular-Slot-Coupled Dielectric Resonator Antenna," IEE Electronics
Letters, Vol. 34, No. 13, June 1998, pp. 1,275-1,277.
[16] Huang, C.Y., J.Y. Wu, and K.L. Wong, "Cross-Slot-Coupled Microstrip Antenna and Dielectric
Resonator Antenna for Circular Polarization," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation,
Vol. 47, No. 4, April 1999, pp. 605-609.

Coupling to DRAs

83

[17] Huang, C.Y., and C.F. Yang, "Cross-Aperture Coupled Circularly-Polarized Dielectric Resonator
Antenna," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 1999, Orlando, FL, pp. 3437.
[18] Huang, C.Y., and J.S. Kuo, "Frequency-Adjustable Circularly Polarized Dielectric Resonator
Antenna," Microwave Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 34, No. 3, Aug. 2002, pp. 211-213.
[19] Leung, K.W., and K.K. So, "Rectangular Waveguide Excitation of Dielectric Resonator
Antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 51, No. 9, Sept. 2003, pp. 2,4772,481.
[20] Eshrah, I., et al., "Theory and Implementation of a Dielectric Resonator Antenna Excited by a
Waveguide Slot," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 53, No. 1, Jan. 2005, pp.
483-494.
[21] Leung, K.W., et al., "Theory and Experiment of an Aperture-Coupled Hemispherical Dielectric
Resonator Antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 43, No. 1, Nov. 1995,
pp. 1,192-1,198.
[22] Long, S.A., M.W. McAllister, and L.C. Shen, "The Resonant Cylindrical Dielectric Cavity
Antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 31, No. 3, March 1983, pp. 406412.
[23] McAllister, M.W., S.A. Long, and G.L. Conway, "Rectangular Dielectric-Resonator Antenna,"
IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 19, No. 6, March 1983, pp. 218-219.
[24] McAllister, M., and S.A. Long, "Resonant Hemispherical Dielectric Antenna," IEE Electronics
Letters, Vol. 20, No. 16, Aug. 1984, pp. 657-659.
[25] Mongia, R.K., et al., "Electric Monopole Antenna Using a Dielectric Ring Resonator," IEE
Electronics Letters, Vol. 29, No. 17, Aug. 1993, pp. 1,530-1,531.
[26] Tam, M.T.K., and R.D. Murch, "Half Volume Dielectric Resonator Antenna Designs," IEE
Electronics Letters, Vol. 33, No. 23, Nov. 1997, pp. 1,914-1,916.
[27] Kishk, A.A., A.W. Glisson, and Y. Yin, "Conical Dielectric Resonator Antennas Excited by a
Coaxial Probe," Microwave Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 29, No. 3, May 2001, pp. 160-162.
[28] Kishk, A.A, "A Triangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna Excited by a Coaxial Probe,"
Microwave Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 30, No.5, Sept. 2001, pp. 340-341.
[29] Chen, Z.N., et al., "Effect of Parasitic Disk on a Coaxial Probe-Fed Dielectric Resonator
Antenna," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 15, No. 3, June 1997, pp. 166-168.
[30] Cooper, M., et al., "Investigation of Dielectric Resonator Antennas for L-Band Communications,"
Symposium on Antenna Technology and Applied Electromagnetics ANTEM 96, Montreal,
Canada, Aug. 1996, pp. 167-170.
[31] Cooper, M., "Investigation of Current and Novel Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antennas for
Broadband Applications at L-Band Frequencies," Master's Thesis, Carleton University, 1997.
[32] Luk, K.M., et al., "Technique for Improving Coupling Between Microstrip Line and Dielectric
Resonator Antenna," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 35, No. 5, March 1999, pp. 357-358.
[33] Leung, K.W., K.M. Luk, and K.Y.A. Lai, "Input Impedance of a Hemispherical Dielectric
Resonator Antenna," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 27, No. 24, Nov. 1991, pp. 2,259-2,260.

84

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

[34] Leung, K.W., et al., "Theory and Experiment of a Coaxial Probe Fed Hemispherical Dielectric
Resonator Antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 41, No. 10, Oct. 1993,
pp. 1,390-1,398.
[35] Junker, G.P., A.A. Kishk, and A.W. Glisson, "Input Impedance of Dielectric Resonator Antennas
Excited by a Coaxial Probe," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 42, No. 7,
July 1994, pp. 960-966.
[36] Kranenburg, R.A., and S.A. Long, "Microstrip Transmission Line Excitation of Dielectric
Resonator Antennas," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 24, No. 18, Sept. 1988, pp. 1,156-1,157.
[37] Mongia, R.K., A. Ittipiboon, and M. Cuhaci, "Experimental Investigations on Microstrip-Fed
Series Dielectric Resonator Antenna Arrays," Symposium on Antenna Technology and Applied
Electromagnetics ANTEM 94, Ottawa, Canada, Aug. 1994, pp. 81-84.
[38] Petosa, A., et al., "Investigation of Various Feed Structures for Linear Arrays of Dielectric
Resonator Antennas," IEEE Antennas & Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 1995, Newport
Beach, CA, pp. 1,982-1,985.
[39] Petosa, A., et al., "Microstrip-Fed Stacked Dielectric Resonator Antenna," Symposium on Antenna
Technology and Applied Electromagnetics ANTEM 96, Montreal, Canada, Aug. 1996, pp. 705708.
[40] Petosa, A., et al., "Design and Analysis of Multisegment Dielectric Resonator Antennas," IEEE
Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 48, No. 5, May 2000, pp. 738-742.
[41] Rashidian, A., K. Forooraghi, and M.T. Aligodarz, "Investigations on Two-Segment Dielectric
Resonator Antennas," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 45, No. 12, June 2005,
pp. 533-537.
[42] Kranenberg, R., S.A. Long, and J.T. Williams, "Coplanar Waveguide Excitation of DielectricResonator Antennas," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 39, No. 1, Jan. 1991,
pp. 119-122.
[43] Wu, J.Y., C.Y. Huang, and K.L. Wong, "Low-Profile, Very-High-Permittivity Dielectric
Resonator Antenna Excited by a Coplanar Waveguide," Microwave and Optical Technology
Letters, Vol. 22, No. 2, July 1999, pp. 96-97.
[44] Al Salameh, M.S., Y.M.M. Antar, and G. Seguin, "Coplanar-Waveguide-Fed Slot-Coupled
Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol.
50, No. 10, Oct. 2002, pp. 1,415-1,419.
[45] Deng, S.M., et al., "CPW-Fed Ceramic Dielectric Resonator Antennas with High Profile," IEEE
Antennas & Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 2004, Monterey CA, Vol. 1, pp. 1,098-1,101.
[46] Deng, S.M., et al., "CPW-Fed Dual Rectangular Ceramic Dielectric Resonator Antennas Through
Inductively Coupled Slots," IEEE Antennas & Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 2004,
Monterey, CA, Vol. 1, pp. 1,102-1,105.
[47] Ghosh, B., et al., "Feed Configurations of CPW Fed DRAs," IEEE Antennas & Propagation
Symposium Digest 2004, Monterey, CA, Vol. 2, pp. 1,347-1,350.
[48] Ghosh, B., et al., "CPW Feed to Rectangular DRA," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters,
Vol. 5, No. 3, May 2005, pp. 210-216.

Coupling to DRAs

85

[49] Birand, M.T., and R.V. Gelsthorpe, "Experimental Millimetric Array Using Dielectric Radiators
Fed by Means of Dielectric Waveguide," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 17. No. 18, Sept. 1981, pp.
633-635.
[50] Wyville, M., A. Petosa, and J.S. Wight, "DIG Feed for DRA Arrays," IEEE Antennas &
Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 2005, Vol. 2b, pp. 176-179.
[51] Leung, K.W., K.M. Luk, and K.Y.A. Lai, "Input Impedance of a Hemispherical Dielectric
Resonator Antenna," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 27, No. 24, Nov. 1991, pp. 2,259-2,260.
[52] Zhou, G., A.A. Kishk, and A.W. Glisson, "Input Impedance of a Hemispherical Dielectric
Resonator Antenna Excited by a Coaxial Probe," IEEE Antennas & Propagation Symposium
Digest AP-S 1993, Ann Arbour, MI, pp. 1,038-1,041.
[53] Leung, K.W., et al., "Theory and Experiment of a Coaxial Probe Fed Hemispherical Dielectric
Resonator Antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 41, No. 10, Oct. 1993,
pp. 1,390-1,398.
[54] Leung, K.W., et al., "On the TM101 Mode of Dielectric Resonator Antenna," Microwave and
Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 6, No. 11, Sept. 1993, pp. 626-629.
[55] Wong, K.L., N.C. Chen, and H.T. Chen, "Analysis of a Hemispherical Dielectric Resonator
Antenna with an Air Gap," IEEE Microwave and Guided Wave Letters, Vol. 3, Oct. 1993, pp. 355357.
[56] Wong, K.L., and N.C. Chen, "Analysis of a Broadband Hemispherical Dielectric Resonator
Antenna with a Dielectric Coating," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 7, No. 2,
Feb. 1994, pp. 73-76.
[57] Leung, K.W., "Complex Resonance and Radiation of Hemispherical Dielectric Resonator
Antenna with a Concentric Conductor," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory & Techniques,
Vol. 49, No. 3, March 2001, pp. 525-531.
[58] Leung, K.W., "Conformal Strip Excitation of Dielectric Resonator Antenna," IEEE Transactions
on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 48, June 2000, pp. 961-967.
[59] Leung, K.W., et al., "Input Impedance of Aperture Coupled Hemispherical Dielectric Resonator
Antenna," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 29, No. 13, June 1993, pp. 1,165-1,167.
[60] Kishk, A.A., G. Zhou, and A.W. Glisson, "Analysis of Dielectric Resonator Antennas with
Emphasis on Hemispherical Structures," IEEE Antennas & Propagation Magazine, Vol. 36, No. 2,
April 1994, pp. 20-31.
[61] Leung, K.W., et al., "Theory and Experiment of an Aperture-Coupled Hemispherical Dielectric
Resonator Antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 43, No. 1, Nov. 1995,
pp. 1,192-1,198.
[62] Chen, N.C., K.L. Wong, and K.W. Leung, "Input Impedance of Inclined Printed Slot Antennas
and Inclined-Slot-Coupled Dielectric Resonator Antennas," Microwave and Optical Technology
Letters, Vol. 12, May, 1996, pp. 47-50.
[63] Harrington, R.F., Time-Harmonic Electromagnetic Fields, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1980.
[64] Junker, G.P., A.A. Kishk, and A.W. Glisson, "Numerical Analysis of Dielectric Resonator
Antennas Excited in Quasi-TE Modes," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 29, No. 21, Oct. 1993, pp.
1,810-1,811.

86

Dielectric Resonator Antenna Handbook

[65] Junker, G.P., A.A. Kishk, and A.W. Glisson, "Input Impedance of Dielectric Resonator Antennas
Excited by a Coaxial Probe," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 42, No. 7, July
1994, pp. 960-966.
[66] Junker, G.P., A.A. Kishk, and A.W. Glisson, "Input Impedance of an Aperture Coupled Dielectric
Resonator Antenna," IEEE Antennas & Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 1994, Seattle, WA,
Vol. 2, pp. 748-751.
[67] Junker, G.P., A.W. Glisson, and A.A. Kishk, "Mutual Coupling Effects and Radiation
Characteristics of a Linear Array of Dielectric Radiator Elements Fed by Coaxial Probes," IEEE
Antennas & Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 1995, Newport Beach, CA, pp. 1,998-2,001.
[68] Junker, G.P., A.A. Kishk, and A.W. Glisson, "Two-Port Analysis of Dielectric Resonator
Antennas Excited in TE10 Mode," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 32, No. 7, March 1996, pp. 617618.
[69] Junker, G.P., A.A. Kishk, and A.W. Glisson, "Input Impedance of Aperture-Coupled Dielectric
Resonator Antennas," IEEE Trans. Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 44, May 1996, pp. 600-607.
[70] Liu, Z., W.C. Hew, and E. Michielssen, "Moment Method Based Analysis of DielectricResonator Antennas," IEEE Antennas & Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 1999, Orlando,
FL, 1999, pp. 806-809.
[71] Ge, Y., and K.P. Esselle, "The Analsyis of a Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna Using the
Method of Moments," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 2000, Salt Lake
City, UT, pp. 1,454-1,457.
[72] Shin, J., A.A. Kishk, and A.W. Glisson, "Analysis of Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna
Excited Through a Slot over a Finite Ground Plane," IEEE Antennas & Propagation Symposium
Digest AP-S 2000, Salt Lake City, UT, Vol. 4, pp. 2,076-2,079.
[73] Junker, G.P., A.A. Kishk, and A.W. Glisson, "Multiport Network Description and Radiation
Characteristics of Coupled Dielectric Resonator Antennas," IEEE Transactions on Antennas &
Propagation, Vol. 46, No. 3, March 1998, pp. 425-433.
[74] Neshati, M.H., and Z. Wu, "The Determination of the Resonance Frequency of the TEY111 Mode
in a Rectangular Dielectric Resonator for Antenna Application," 11th International Conference on
Antennas & Propagation, ICAP 2001, Manchester, UK, April 2001, pp. 53-56.
[75] Lapierre, M., et al., "A Wideband Monopole Antenna Using Dielectric Resonator Loading," IEEE
Antennas & Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 2003, Columbus, OH, Vol. 3, pp. 16-19.
[76] Lapierre, M., et al., "Ultra Wideband Monopole/Dielectric Resonator Antenna," IEEE Microwave
and Wireless Components Letters, Vol. 15, No. 1, Jan. 2005, pp. 7-9.
[77] Shum, S.M., and K.M. Luk, "FDTD Analysis of Probe-Fed Cylindrical Dielectric Resonator
Antenna Operating in Fundamental Broadside Mode," IEE Electronics Letters, Vol. 31, No. 15,
July 1995, pp. 1,210-1,212.
[78] Shum, S.M., and K.M. Luk, "FDTD Analysis of Probe-Fed Cylindrical Dielectric Resonator
Antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 46, No. 3, March 1998, pp. 325333.
[79] Esselle, K.P., "The Finite-Difference Time-Domain Analysis of a Rectangular Dielectric
Resonator Antenna," J. Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Australia, Vol. 15, No. 1, 1995,
pp. 63-70.

Coupling to DRAs

87

[80] Esselle, K.P., "A Low-Profile Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna," IEEE Transactions on
Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 44, No. 9, Sept. 1996, pp. 1,296-1,297.
[81] Esselle, K.P., "Circularly Polarised Low-Profile Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna:
FDTD and Experimental Results," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S
1996, Vol. 1, pp. 577-580.
[82] Guo, Y.X., K.M. Luk, and K.W. Leung, "Mutual Coupling Between Rectangular Dielectric
Resonators," IEE Proceedings on Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 146, No. 4, Aug.
1999, pp. 292-294.
[83] Dhouib, A., et al., "TLM Analysis of Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antennas," IEEE
Antennas & Propagation Symposium Digest AP-S 1995, Newport Beach, CA, pp. 782-785.
[84] Henry, B., et al., "TLM Simulations of Parasitic Coupling in Rectangular Dielectric Resonator
Antennas," Symposium on Antenna Technology and Applied Electromagnetics ANTEM 98,
Ottawa, Canada, Aug. 1998, pp. 611-614.
[85] Henry, B., et al., "Mutual Coupling Between Rectangular Multi-Segment Dielectric Resonator
Antennas," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, 5 April 1999, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 46-48.
[86] Petosa, A., et al., "Design and Analysis of Multisegment Dielectric Resonator Antennas," IEEE
Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 48, No. 5, May 2000, pp. 738-742.