Effects of Slots On Resonant Frequencies of a
Microstrip Patch Antenna
Ripa Parikh
Electronics and Telecommunication
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering
Mumbai, India
ripa.parikh@somaiya.edu
Abstract— In this paper, a compact multiband rectangular
microstrip patch antenna using slots to obtain multiple
resonating frequencies, is discussed. Slots can be introduced
for increasing the bandwidth, miniaturization and introducing
multiband characteristics. Rectangular slots are introduced in
the radiating patch, arranged in the shape of a “swastika”.
Multiband characteristics is achieved due to spiral
arrangement of the slots. The microstrip patch antenna is
coaxial fed. FR4 epoxy resin is used for the substrate because
of its rigid structure and lossy nature which enhances radiation
effects. Slots of various dimensions and positions make up a
swastika slot. Impact of each slot on the resonant frequencies
of the RMSA is studied, their reflection coefficient analyzed
and presented here.
Keywords— Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna;
multiband antenna; miniaturization; reflection coefficient;
antenna slots; coaxial fed.
I. INTRODUCTION
With increasing requirements for personal and mobile
communications, the demand for smaller and low-profile
antennas has brought the Microstrip Patch Antenna (MSA) to
the forefront. The advantages of MSAs make them suitable
for numerous applications wherein thin and conformal
antennas are required [1]. The MSA has proved to be an
excellent radiator for many applications, but it also has some
disadvantages like narrow bandwidth, lower gain [1].
Multiband antennas are designed where the same antenna
can resonate at different frequencies and this reduces the
system size and the overall cost of manufacturing. Moreover,
microstrip patch antenna can be easily fabricated using
printed technologies on a large scale and this reduces the cost
of manufacturing [2]. There are several ways to implement
miniaturization and multiband characteristics viz. slot
introduction, shorting pins, defected ground structure. Slot
antennas are preferred due to advantages like compact size,
wide bandwidth and easy integration with other devices.
In the past years different designs of compact multiband
slot have been proposed [3] – [13]. A planar four-band slot
antenna is presented in [3], consisting of a radiating slot
loaded with a T-shaped feed patch, one inverted T-shaped
and two E-shaped stubs. There is another method for
multiband operation used in [4] using defect ground
structure and square shaped slots. In [5], a compact
multiband microstrip antenna is proposed with a ‘V’ shaped
slot connected to a ‘U’ shaped slot on the patch. The
antenna resonates to C band and X band frequencies. In [3]
– [5], the MSA have length of 48mm, 50mm and 40 mm. A
dual S-shaped patch on both sides of the substrate is
presented for multiband applications in [6], resulting in an
efficient size of 33.5mm x 30mm. In [7], analysis of a
978-1-5386-5257-2/18/$31.00 ©20XX IEEE
Bharati Singh
Electronics and Telecommunication
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering
Mumbai, India
bharati.singh@somaiya.edu
compact triple band MSA based on the principle of etching
slots in the radiating patch to produce desired resonance
frequency is discussed. Here two L-shaped and one M
shaped slot is introduced in the radiating patch and two
more slots are etched into the ground layer. The proposed
antenna is very compact is size, 13.6mm x 13.6mm. A
design of microstrip antenna with three ‘plus’ slots of equal
area has been investigated in [8]. An extension of the ‘plus’
slot is the unique swastika pattern, which is researched in
[9] – [13]. A modified swastika slot on a circular patch
antenna has been studied and proposed in [9], that operates
in X, Ku, K, Ka band. Different slots of MSA are analyzed
and four modified Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) swastika slot
antennas are proposed in [10]. Both the ground plane and
the radiating patch are modified here. All these proposed
novel antennas in [10] are of compact size having
dimensions of 24 mm x 24 mm.
A suspended, compact and circularly polarized MSA
with “swastika” shaped slot has been designed in [11] using
two 1.59 mm layers of FR4 substrate with an air gap of
1.59mm. Here, eight rectangular slots are used in a
repetitive manner to form a swastika design. A dual layer
stacked swastika shaped antenna with a metamaterial based
ground structure at frequency 11.65 GHz is presented in
[12]. An air gap is used between two dielectrics whereas an
inverted patch configuration is employed. A meta-material
structured ground plane is implemented in [12] to improve
the performance characteristics of the antenna. The
increasing demand of compact size, portable, body-worn
and lightweight electronic devices for the Wireless Body
Area Network (WBAN) applications requires the design of
miniature antennas. Therefore, in [13], a novel swastika slot
Ultra-wide band (UWB) antenna is presented with the
concept of modified ground plane.
The rest of the paper is organized as follows. Section II
describes the Antenna Design. Using the antenna design
equations, the antenna parameters are obtained. Eight
variations of antenna are designed and simulated, one being
the basic antenna and rest seven with different slots. The
obtained simulation results are discussed in section III. Here,
current distribution and Return Loss graph of each antenna is
presented. Finally, in section IV, the conclusions of the
simulated work and future work are presented.
II. ANTENNA DESIGN
A. Design Process of MSA
Microstrip antenna, in its basic form, consists of a
conducting patch on one side of a dielectric substrate, and a
ground plane on the other side of the substrate. The steps simulated and their S11 parameters obtained. The resonant
involved in design of a MSA are shown below. frequency shifts for each slot are noted and tabulated. The
following variations of the antenna are simulated and their
S11 results noted.

1. Basic Square MSA without slots.

2. Vertical slot of dimensions L x W = 1mm x 19
mm
3. Horizontal slot of dimensions L x W = 19mm x
1mm
4. Plus Slot, Combination of the above two slots
5. Vertical Smaller slot, at the top left, of dimension
L x W = 1mm x 9mm.
6. Vertical smaller slot, at bottom right, of dimension
L x W = 1mm x 9 mm.
7. Combination of two horizontal slots, one at top
right and other at bottom left, of dimensions L x W
B. Design of a Swastika Slotted Microstrip Patch Antenna = 9mm x 1mm.
Configuration of the proposed Swastika-slot Microstrip 8. Complete Swastika Slot, combination of all the six
rectangular slots.
Patch Antenna is shown in Fig. 1. The proposed antenna
structure is designed from a conventional patch antenna
A comprehensive study of all these variations is
structure [14].
presented below. The dimensions of all the simulated
Six rectangular slots are etched on the radiating patch, to MSAs are 21 mm x 21mm.
form a “swastika” shape. Out of these, the two bigger slots,
forming a “plus” in the center of the patch, are of
dimensions L x W: 1 mm x 19 mm and 19mm x 1mm. A. Case 1 – Basic Microstrip Patch Antenna
Four smaller rectangular slots are then arranged around this A basic MSA is the first one to be simulated and it
central “plus” shape. Two smaller slots are of dimensions 1 resonates at three frequencies, f1 = 4.8 GHz, f2 = 6.55 GHz,
mm x 9 mm and the remaining two are of dimensions 9mm f3 = 7.59 GHz. Its current distribution and S-parameter
x 1mm. graph is shown in Fig. 2 and S11 values as tabulated in
Table 1. The fundamental resonating frequency for the
Space between the metal and ground is filled with lossy patch antenna is 6.55 GHz.
substrate. FR4 is chosen as a dielectric because of its rigid
structure and for its lossy nature which enhances radiation TABLE I. CASE 1 RETURN LOSS PARAMETERS
effects. The patch is fed by a coaxial probe of radius 0.4mm. Frequency (GHz) S11 (dB)
The coordinates of the location of the coaxial feed point are 4.865 -11.12
(-8,-4) so as to achieve maximum impedance matching. 6.55 -29.72
Parameters used for antenna design are – 7.59 -16.553
Dielectric constant, εr = 4.2.
Loss tangent δ = 0.02.
Substrate thickness = 1.6 mm.
Length of the patch = 21 mm.
Width of the patch = 21 mm.

Fig. 1. Basic Swastika Slotted Antenna

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The proposed swastika slotted microstrip antenna is
simulated using IE3D software. The simulation is based on
the method of moments. The reflected power by the
incident power is termed as Reflection coefficient. It is also
termed as Return Loss or S11 parameter [8]. In this paper,
S11 < -10dB is taken as the criteria for the resonant
frequency to be taken into account.

A basic MSA is the first one to be simulated and its

resonating frequencies noted. Stepwise slots are introduced
in the patch antenna. Each individual slot antenna is
simulated and effects of the slot is noted. Finally, all the
slots are combined to form a swastika, the resultant MSA is

2018 Fourth International Conference on Computing Communication Control and Automation (ICCUBEA)
 Fig. 2. Basic Antenna

B. Case 2 – Single Central Horizontal Slot

After etching a 19 x 1 mm slot in center of the radiating
patch, the fundamental resonant frequency f2, has negligibly
increased from 6.55 GHz to 6.59 GHz. And f3 has stayed
almost the same at 7.6 GHz, as can be seen in Table II. The
RMSA with a horizontal central slot no longer resonates at
the first frequency f1 as in the case 1. The MSA with slot, its
current distribution and S-parameter graph is shown in Fig.
3.
TABLE II. CASE 2 RETURN LOSS PARAMETERS
Frequency (GHz) S11 (dB)
6.59 -35.37
7.6 -13.5

Fig. 4. Vertical Slot Antenna

D. Case 4 – PLUS Slot

The vertical slots and horizontal slots are combined to

study the effect on frequencies. Due to the slot
combination, there are two prominent resonant frequencies
f2 has increased to be 6.65 GHz and f3 has also increased to
be 7.70 GHz as can be seen from the S-parameter Table IV.
In comparison with the case 1 basic MSA, it can be
observed that the antenna does not resonate at f1, and
resonating frequencies f2 and f3 have increased. Here, it can
be observed that the similar as the central horizontal slot
antenna, the PLUS combination slot antenna has only two
resonating frequencies. The patch antenna with PLUS slot,
its current distribution is shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 3. Horizontal Slot Antenna
TABLE IV. CASE 4 RETURN LOSS PARAMETERS
Frequency (GHz) S11 (dB)
C. Case 3 – Single Central Vertical Slot 6.65 -25.20
7.7 -13
In another variation, there is a vertical slot of
dimensions, 1 x 19 mm, etched on the radiating patch. Due
to the slot, the frequency f1 is reduced to 4.8 GHz, f2 is
increased to 6.63 GHz, f3 is increased to 7.70 GHz. A new
frequency 3.33 GHz is introduced due to the vertical slots,
as tabulated in Table III. Thus, due to a vertical slot
introduced at the center of the patch, multiband
characteristics is achieved, with four resonating frequencies.

The changes in frequencies with respect to the basic

RMSA is discussed above. Also, by comparing the results of
case 2 and case 3, it can be concluded that introducing a
vertical slot introduces multiband property. With the
introduction of horizontal slot or a lengthwise slot, the
resonating frequencies remain fairly unaffected compared to
the vertical slot. the patch antenna, its current distributions of
vertical slot is shown in Fig. 4.
TABLE III. CASE 3 RETURN LOSS PARAMETERS
Frequency (GHz) S11 (dB) Fig. 5. PLUS Slot Antenna
3.33 -29.97
4.8 -10 E. Case 5 – Top Left vertical slot
6.63 -25.56
7.70 -15.57 In earlier cases, the slots are placed in the center of the
radiating patch. The other smaller slots of the swastika
pattern are now analyzed individually, to understand the

2018 Fourth International Conference on Computing Communication Control and Automation (ICCUBEA)
effect of the change in slot position. In this case, there is a G. Case 7 – combination of two small horizontal slots
vertical slot of dimensions, 1 x 9 mm, etched on the
radiation patch towards the top left corner of the antenna, as In case of small vertical slots, each slot is analyzed
shown in Fig 6. As compared with the basic RMSA, the first separately, both were concluded as having similar
resonant frequency f1 has increased to 4.84 GHz, f2 is frequencies. The horizontal slots, similarly, are also analyzed
reduced to 6.19 GHz, and f3 is reduced to 7.36 GHz, as individually. However, for brevity, only the results of
tabulated in Table V. From the S parameter graph of Fig 6, combination of both horizontal slots is discussed here. The
it can be concluded that the bandwidth of frequency band of two small horizontal slots are combined and their the S11
7.5 GHz band has increased. values taken as shown in Fig. 8. The first resonating
frequency f1 experiences a very minor change to 4.87 GHz.
TABLE V. CASE 5 RETURN LOSS PARAMETERS
The second frequency f2 slightly increases to 6.59 GHz and
Frequency (GHz) S11 (dB) the third resonating frequency f3 is almost the same. Thus, in
4.84 -11.67 this case there is no major change in the existing frequencies.
6.19 -11.67 However, a new frequency is seen here at 6.03 GHz, as
7.36 -17.39 mentioned in the Table VII.
TABLE VII. CASE 7 RETURN LOSS PARAMETERS

Frequency (GHz) S11 values

4.87 -12.05
6.07 -15.67
6.54 -35.54
a) Small vertical slot b) current distribution 7.57 -26.87

c) Return Loss graph.

Fig. 6. Top Vertical Slot Antenna

F. Case 6 – Bottom Right vertical slot

Here, the vertical slot of dimensions, 1 x 9 mm, is etched

on the radiation patch towards the bottom right corner of the
antenna. The patch antenna, its current distributions and S-
parameter graph is shown in Fig 7. Due to the slot, in Fig. 8. Smaller Horizontal Slot Antenna
comparison with the basic RMSA, the first frequency f1 is
almost the same, f2 is reduced to 6.20 GHz, and f3 has
increased to 7.64 GHz, as tabulated in Table VI. H. Case 8. – The swastika slot

TABLE VI. CASE 6 RETURN LOSS PARAMETERS All the slots are combined to form a swastika slot and
Frequency (GHz) S11 (dB) the result is shown in Fig 9. The MSA with a swastika slot
4.87 -12.36 resonates at frequency f2 = 6.72 GHz and f3 = 7.57 GHz with
6.20 -28.70 acceptable values of S11, as shown in Table VIII.
7.64 -14.53

Fig. 7. Bottom Right vertical Slot Antenna Fig. 9. Swastika Slot Antenna

2018 Fourth International Conference on Computing Communication Control and Automation (ICCUBEA)
 a significant impact on the resonant frequencies. The future
TABLE VIII. CASE 8 RETURN LOSS PARAMETERS work will involve analysis of the effect of the slot length
Frequency (GHz) S11 values and width when etched in a microstrip patch antenna.
6.72 -23.75
7.57 -10

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IV CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK
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2018 Fourth International Conference on Computing Communication Control and Automation (ICCUBEA)