Miniaturization of Microstrip Patch Antenna using

Metamaterial loaded with SRR

Satish K. Jain1 Ayush Shrivastava2 Gautam Shrivas3

Abstract − A size reduction technique of the microstrip patch
antenna using metamaterial has been proposed. In order to
establish that, inset-fed microstrip patch antenna working with
L-S band (2 GHz - 5 GHz) is optimized through the available
closed form relations and CST (computer simulation
technology) simulator, fabricated and measured. Then proposed
microstrip patch antenna has been loaded with complementary
split-ring resonator (CSRR) at the ground plane, fabricated and
measured. Performance of both the antenna was compared with
respect to reflection coefficient, in order to prove the
miniaturization. Beforehand, a metamaterial property of the
CSRR loaded substrate is verified using transmission line model.
Proposed method shows significant reduction in the antenna size
for the specific resonance frequency of operation.
1 INTRODUCTION
inverted U-shaped metamaterial loaded substrate etc.
In the above, miniaturization of the order of 40% has
been achieved. The proposed activity has been
organized as follows. Section-2 covers proposed
microstrip antenna geometry working within 2 GHz –
5 GHz band using inset-feed and CSRR structure
along with their geometrical parameters. In section- 3,
an approach to verify the metamaterial property of the
substrate loaded with CSRR structure at the ground
plane has been discussed. In section 4, the outcome of
the work in terms of the simulated and experimental
results has been analyzed, which is then followed by
the conclusion.

With the rapid growth of wireless communication, the
dirth of the hour is to design a communication
transreceiver with wide bandwidth, high efficiency,
multiple bands of operation, and compact in size etc.
The advent of micro system technologies and
nanotechnologies enabled structuring of materials for
microwave application. A set of new material called
metamaterial has gained significant importance for
performance enhancement of the antenna. The best
known example of novel electromagnetic structures is
photonics crystals and the negative index
metamaterials popularly known as left handed
materials. These enabled extension of the operation of
antennas for microwave application beyond the limits.
The application of metamaterials on the antenna
performance enhancement, which includes reduction
of mutual coupling, dual band operation, enhancement
of directivity and gain, leaky wave radiation
application, enhancement of band width, enhancement
2 PROPOSED ANTENNA AND CSRR
STRUCTURE
The geometrical layout of the microstrip patch antenna
consists dielectric layer with copper ground plane, a
very thin metallic patch on the other side of the
dielectric layer and a feeding system (Figure 1).
Feeding system plays a very important role in the
antenna performance; therefore it is always a design
issue. In antenna design with metamaterial loading,
inset feed is being preferred by the designers, because
feed can be fabricated along with the patch and doesn’t
interfere with metamaterial resonator ring in ground
plane.
W
Patch

w0 L
of reflection coefficients and radiation pattern etc. has w0
been explored by the various researchers [1-8]. A
conventional way of reducing the size of antenna is by
l0 l0
employing substrate material with high value of
dielectric constant. But, that approach is leading to the
high surface wave losses. A compact resonant antenna Ground plane l1
design using metamaterial has already been realized in
[9]. In the proposed research work, we have attempted
for the size reduction of the microstrip patch antenna w1
employing metamaterial property. Though application
of metamatrial for the antenna miniaturization is not so Figure 1: Proposed antenna geometry top view.
old [10-13]. Authors have achieved miniaturization by
The thickness of this patch (t), height of the dielectric
various techniques like using CRLH transmission line,
sheet (h), dielectric constant of the substrate material
using spiral loop, using a magneto-dielectric substrate,
(εr), feed point location on the patch (l1 and w1) and
using complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs),
dimensions of the patch (L,W) are the basic
using Defected Ground Structure (DGS) metamaterial,
parameters of the antenna. The most important and
using a ring shape metamaterial, with U-shaped and
dominating variable parameters, on which the
________________________________________________________________________________________
1
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, SGSITS, Indore (M.P.) 452003, India
e-mail: satishjain.jain@gmail.com, ayushrivastava007@gmail.com, gautam.shrivas25@gmail.com tel.:
+91 9993769632, fax: +91 24325540.

978-1-4799-7806-9/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE 1224

performance of antenna depends includes dimension strong distributed capacitance exists between the
of the patch, and feed system. Dimensions of the metallic disks and surrounded ground plane. When
patch fix the resonance frequency, whereas feed time varying electric field is applied in perpendicular
system is important for the best impedance patch. direction to the surface of the ring, it induces current in
Since parameters of the dielectric layers like height the ring. This in turn produces a electric field, which
(h), and dielectric constant (εr) can’t be altered, may oppose to the applied field, thereby negative
therefore in normal practice of design they are fixed. permittivity (εr) may be reflected. The layout of
FR4 dielectric substrate has been used, whose CSRR and equivalent circuit of the proposed CSRR
dielectric constant (εr), height (h) and loss tangents loaded antenna is shown in Figure 2 [15].
(tanδ) are as follows; 4.4, 0.06 inch and 0.025
respectively. For the antenna to resonant at 3.6 GHz Copper Slot
frequency, dimensions of the patch and feed were
obtained by the available equations of antenna [14].
Calculated inset width (2w0 + w1), and inset depth l0 b
is; 0.115 inch and 0.452 inch respectively. Proposed R R
microstrip antenna is able to resonate at the 3.6 GHz
frequency. The dimensional and other parameters of d
the inset-fed patch antenna and CSRR are listed in
Table 1.
Parameter Ground size Patch size; Figure 2: CSRR unit cell layout and CSRR loaded
L×W antenna equivalent circuit.
Values 2.36 x 2.36 1.51x1.50
There are few parameters of CSRR, whose role in
Parameter Width of feed Total length antenna performance can be explored like dimensions
line, w1 of feed, l1 of the CSRRs (R1, R2 ), number of CSRR in array (N),
Values 0.060 0.88 splitted gap of rings (xr1 and xr2), width of the rings (a,
Parameter Size of outer Split gap in b), gap between rings (d=(R1 - R2 - a)) etc.
square ring, R1 ring, xr1
Values 0.59 0.06 3 METAMATERIAL PROPERTY
VARIFICATION
Parameter Size of inner Split gap in
square ring, R2 ring, xr2 In order to verify the metamaterial property (negative
Values 0.47 0.06 permittivity (εr) value within the operational
Parameter Width of the Spacing frequency), we have simulated two port microstrip
Rings, between rings, transmission line having the dimensions as follows;
a=b d=(R1 - R2 - a) length, L (= 1.811 inch), and width, wf (= 0.0834
Values 0.08 0.04 inch). FR4 (Epoxi glass) substrate material with
dielectric constant 4.4 having dimensions 1.18 inch ×
1.10 inch was chosen. At the ground plane, CSRR is
etched out (Figure 3) with the dimensions discussed
Table 1: Antenna and CSRR parameters with their in Table 1 of section II.
values; units in inch.

Among the researchers, structures like ring are a

matter of electromagnetic analysis due to its negative
reflective index behavior. The SRR/CSRR with
various geometry already has been applied in many
microwave applications like antennas, absorbers,
filters and frequency selective surfaces etc. due to their
negative permeability (μr) and permittivity (εr)
performances. These structures are able to improve the Transmission line
performance of the systems. Double split ring
resonator (SRR) is a structure in which the capacitance Figure 3: CSRR loaded transmission line.
between the two metallic rings balances its inductance,
and results in negative effective μ. A complementary The transmission line was simulated using CST for
SRR (CSRR) structure with apertures in the metal the frequency range 2 GHz – 5 GHz. In the S11 and
surfaces is obtained, which create a negative ε near the S21 parameters plots, a stop-band has been observed
resonance frequency. It is a structure (Figure 2), in that around the 3.6 GHz due to the CSRR resonance. On

1225
the basis of recorded S11 and S21 parameters, the performance was observed i.e. reflection coefficient
value of the permittivity (εr) was calculated using (|S11| in (dB)), as shown in Figure 6.
Nicholson-Ross-Weir (NRW) conversion process
(equation 1) [15-16].

where λ0 and λc are the free space and cutoff wave

length respectively. L is the length of the
transmission line, whereas μr and T is the
permeability of the substrate and transmission
coefficient, which can be calculated using same S11
and S21 parameters. Though there are other methods
available to verify the permeability (μr) and
permittivity (εr) of the substrate material, we have Figure 5: Performance of CSRR loaded antenna.
chosen NRW because of its simplicity and
popularity. From the medium parameter variation
plot (Figure 4), a negative permittivity performance
of the material can be observed within the operational
frequency range.

Figure 6: Parametric performance of CSRR loaded

antenna.

From the Figure 6, it is clearly observed that, size of

Figure 4: Variation of permittivity with frequency.
4 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
the ring is sensible parameter and plays an important
role. Fabricated plain antenna and antenna loaded with
CSRR metamaterial is shown in the Figure 7(a) and
(b) respectively.

The resonance frequency of the microstrip patch

antenna depends on the length parameter. Any
increment in the length parameter reduces the
resonance frequency. But, this enlarged size makes
the antenna unsuitable for many devices like
handheld mobile phones etc. Therefore in the (a) (b)
proposed miniaturization technique, size of the
antenna has been reduced using the CSRR Figure 7: Fabricated plain and CSRR loaded antenna
(metamaterial) etched in the ground plane without
effecting patch /antenna size. Conversion of the
permittivity from the positive to the negative value
by employing metamaterial has reduced the
resonance frequency towards left side, as shown in
the Figure 5. This proves the miniaturization
capability of CSRR loaded metamaterial. In order to
perform a parametric analysis, computer simulation
technology (CST) software was used and proposed
antenna with CSRR was simulated with varying
CSRR parameters. For the analysis, each of the four
dimensional parameter of the CSRR i.e. R1, R2, xr1,
and xr2 were varied one by one keeping others Figure 8: Measured response of fabricated plain and
parameters constant and its effect on the antenna CSRR loaded antenna.

1226
Figure 8 shows the experimental response of the plain
and CSRR loaded antenna of the Figure 7. From the
response, due to presence of CSRR, miniaturization is
reflected.
5 CONCLUSION
From the proposed research activity, it has been
proved that right handed dielectric substrate material
along with CSRR optimized parameters can play a
role of the metamaterial. Its negative property has
been verified with the help of two port transmission
line model using its S11 and S21 parameters. Its
negative effect on the nature of permittivity of the
antenna substrate around 3 GHz has been shown.
Few variations have been done in the main
parameters of CSRR and their impact on the antenna
performance has been observed. A metamaterial
(CSRR) loaded antenna prototype has been
developed and tested in the laboratory. From the
simulated and experimental performances of the plain
and CSRR loaded antenna, a remarkable
miniaturization is reflected.
Acknowledgments
Authors wish to thank SGSITS Indore (M.P.) India for
supporting this research activity.
References
[1] E.R. Iglesias, O.Q. Teruel and L. I. S. Sanchez,
“Mutual coupling reduction in patch antenna arrays
by using a planar EBG structure & a multiplayer
dielectric substrate” , IEEE Transactions Antennas
and Propagation, volume 56, no.6, pp. 1648-1655,
June 2008.
[2] A. Yu. F. Yang and A. Elsherbeni, “A Dual band
circularly polarized ring antenna based on
composite right and left handed metamaterials”,
Progress in Electromagnetic Reasearch, volume 78,
pp.73-81,2008.
[3]Stefan Enoch, Ge’rard Tayeb, Pierre Saourouox
,Nicolas Gue’rin, and Patrick Vincent, “A
metamaterial directive emission” , Physical Review
Letters, volume 21, pp.1-4, November 2002.
[4] Q. Wu. P. Pan, F. Y. Meng, L W li and J Wu, “A
novel flat lens antenna design based on zero
refraction principle metamaterial” , Journal of
Applied Physics, A-87, pp.151-156, 2007.
[5] G. V. Elftheriades, “Enabling RF/Microwave
devices using negative refractive index
transmission line metamaterials, ” The Radio
Science Bulletin, no.312, pp.57-69, March 2005.
[6] L.A. Asl, D. J. Kern, P. S. Hall and D. H. Warner,
“Wideband dipoles on electromagnetic band gap
ground planes, ”IEEE Transactions, Antennas and
1227
Wave Propagation, volume 55, no. 9, pp. 2426-
2434, September 2007.
[7] Y. Lee and Y. Hao, “Characterization of
microstrip patch antennas on metamaterial
substrates loaded with complementary split ring
resonators, ” Microwave and Optical Technology
Letters, volume 50, no 8, pp. 2131-2135, August
2008.
[8]F. Yang and Y. Rahamat-Samii, “Reflection phase
characterization of the EBG ground plane for low
profile wire antenna applications, ” IEEE Antennas
and Wireless Propagation Letters, volume 51, pp.
2691-2703, October 2003.
[9]K. Buell, H. Mosallaei and K. sarbandi, “A
substrate for small patch antennas providing
tunable miniaturization factors,” IEEE
Transactions on Microwave Theory and
Techniques, volume 54, no. 1, pp.135-144, January
2006.
[10] F. Farzami, K. Forooraghi, and M. Norooziarab,
“Miniaturization of a Microstrip Antenna Using a
Compact and Thin Magneto-Dielectric Substrate,”
IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters,
vol. 10, 2011.
[11] Y. Dong, H. Toyao, and T. Itoh, “Design and
Characterization of Miniaturized Patch Antennas
Loaded with Complementary Split-Ring
Resonators,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and
Propagation, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 772-785, February
2012.
[12] N. Ripin, W.M.A.W. Saidy, A.A. Sulaiman,
N.E.A. Rashid, and M.F. Hussin, “Miniaturization
of microstrip patch antenna through metamaterial
approach,” 2013 IEEE Student Conference on
Research and Development (SCOReD), pp. 365 –
369. 2013, DOI: 10.1109/SCOReD.2013.7002610.
[13] G.K. Pandey, H.S. Singh, P. K. Bharti, M. K.
Meshram, “Metamaterial based compact antenna
design for UWB applications,” 2014 IEEE
Symposium, pp. 15-18, 2014, DOI:
10.1109/TENCONSpring.2014.6862989.
[14]C.A. Balanis, Antenna Theory: Analysis and
Design, New York, Wiley Inc., 2003.
[15] J. D. Baena, J . Bonache, F. Martin, and R.M.
Sillero, “Equivalent Circuit Models for Split –Ring
Resonators and Complementary Split-Ring
Resonators coupled to Planar Transmission Lines,”
IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and
Techniques, vol. 53, no. 4, pp.1451-1461, 2005.
[16] Rhode and Schwartz, “Application note on the
measurement of dielectric material property,”
2006.