Project of Antennas For GPS, Ism 2.4 and 5.8 GHZ Mobile Terminals

Project of antennas for GPS, ISM 2.4 and 5.
8 GHz mobile
terminals
Estela do Céu Boto Cameira Ferreira
Thesis to obtain the Master of Science Degree in
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Supervisor: Prof. António Manuel Restani Graça Alves Moreira
Examination Committee
Chairperson: Prof. José Eduardo Charters Ribeiro da Cunha Sanguino
Supervisor: Prof. António Manuel Restani Graça Alves Moreira
Member of the Committee: Prof. António José Castelo Branco Rodrigues
November 2017
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For my beloved mother, who is my role model and for my sweet father, who is always in my heart.
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Acknowledgments
I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor Professor António Moreira for all the effective
and helpful comment and engagement to this master thesis process. Whenever necessary, Prof. Moreira
has been, always, prompt to advise on my research and writing.
Furthermore, I would like to thank Eng. Carlos Brito and Eng. António Almeida who manufac-
tured this thesis antenna and helped the laboratory set-up for practical tests and analysis. Through the
antenna manufacturing, they explained and demonstrated all the development of printed circuits and
measurement practices.
I would also like to show my gratitude to my friend and entrepreneur Vasco Machado Monteiro, that
help me to review my thesis work. It is a pleasure to thank all the laughs taken with my friends, university
colleagues, and dance colleagues, without them my journey till now would not be the same.
Finally, I must express my very profound gratitude to my mother and to my boyfriend for providing
me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement through the process of researching and thesis
writing. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them. Thank you.
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Resumo
Foi realizado nesta dissertação um estudo intensivo sobre antenas multibanda de pequenas di-
mensões já existentes, bem como as suas propriedades, e a importância destas em comunicações
sem fios que estão em constante crescimento.
São propostas nesta dissertação duas estruturas de antenas, sendo uma delas contruı́da em labo-
ratório. O protótipo construı́do é baseado numa estrutura PIFA metálica, possui dois substratos distan-
ciados com uma altura de aproximadamente 2.5 mm. Um dos substratos serve de plano terra, e o outro
serve de suporte à estrutura metálica superior, que contem duas fissuras e um meandro.
O Design da antena foi realizado sempre considerando o objetivo do projeto de uma antena capaz
de operar nas bandas GPS L1, ISM (Industrial, Cientı́fica e Médica) 2,45 e 5,8 GHz para dispositivos
móveis sem fio.
Após análise cuidada da importância deste tipo de antenas, é estudado o impacto de englobar a an-
tena projetada numa caixa PLA. Posto isto, é construı́da numa impressora 3D uma caixa de dimensões
semelhantes a um smartphone, e o protótipo realizado da antena desta dissertação é testado dentro
da caixa, com tapa aberta e fechada.
Os resultados obtidos experimentalmente em laboratório foram comparados aos simulados e con-
cluı́sse que são adequados e satisfatórios ao objetivo inicial da tese. A antena projetada tem quatro
ressonâncias, uma na banda ISM de 5,8 GHz, duas na banda S e uma na banda C. As estruturas de
antenas analisadas e propostas nesta dissertação são de grande interesse para comunicações móveis.
Palavras-chave: GPS, Antena multibanda, bandas ISM 2.45 GHz e 5.8 GHz, antenas de
pequenas dimensões, Bluetooth, WiFi,
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Abstract
An intensive study on small multiband antennas was conducted in this dissertation, alongside with
their properties and importance within Wireless communications that is growing larger each day .
Two antenna structures are proposed in this dissertation, being one of them built in laboratory. The
built prototype consists of a PIFA (planar inverted F antenna) structure with two substrates distanced
over a 2.5 mm height approximately. One of the substrates works as a ground plane, and the other
supports the top metallic structure, which contains two slots and a meander.
The antenna design is made always aiming antennas able to operate in the GPS L1, ISM (Industrial,
Scientific, and Medical) 2.45 and 5.8 GHz bands for wireless devices
After a careful analysis of these antennas importance, it is assessed the impact of enclosing the
designed antenna in a PLA box. So, it is built in a 3D printer a smartphone sized box, and the dissertation
antenna prototype is tested inside the box, with lid open and closed.
The obtained experimental results in laboratory were compared to the simulated ones and were
suitable and satisfactory for the thesis initial purpose. The designed antenna has four resonances, one
in the ISM 5.8 GHz band, two in the S band, and one in C band. The analyzed proposed antenna
structures in this dissertation are of big interest for mobile communications.
Keywords: GPS, Multiband Antenna, ISM bands 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz, Small Antennas,
Bluetooth, WiFi
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Contents
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Resumo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
List of Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv
List of Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xix
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Problem statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3 Dissertation structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 Frequency bands and applications 5

2.1 Frequency bands of interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2 GPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.3 ISM bands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3 Multiband Antennas for GPS and ISM bands 13

3.1 Parameters Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.2 Multiband antenna structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.3 Literature review of small multiband antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.4 Antenna Performance effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.4.1 Casing effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.4.2 Body proximity effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4 Multiband antenna design and test 26

4.1 Antenna Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
4.1.1 Design Evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.1.2 Proposed antenna design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.2 Prototype construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.2.1 Antenna assembling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.2.2 Antenna assembled with a 3D PLA printed box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
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4.3 Experimental results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.3.1 Antenna measurement in free space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.3.2 Antenna measurement within an open box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.3.3 Antenna measurement within a closed box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.3.4 Discussion of factors that influence the measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
5 Conclusions and future work 43

5.1 Results and conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
5.2 Future Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
References 47
A GPS Segments A.1
B Coaxial Cable EZ-34 B.3
C ISM Regions and Frequencies C.5
D Substrate Rogers RO3035 D.7

D.1 RO3035 Datasheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.7
E Antenna Masks E.9
F Base substrate dimension modification effect F.11
G Simulated Radiating Patterns G.13
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List of Tables
2.1 Some specifications comparing 2.45 GHz with 5.8 GHz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.1 Antenna solutions with similarities with the proposed antenna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

4.2 Electrical properties of PLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
4.3 S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results for free space envi-
ronment - corresponding points of the Figure 4.18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.4 S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results for open box environ-
ment - corresponding points of the Figure 4.20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
ment - corresponding points of the Figure 4.18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
C.1 ISM bands: RR. *Regions are represented in Figure C.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.6
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List of Figures
1.1 Evolution of telecommunications devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.1 Segments of a GPS system. Source: [14]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2 GNSS frequency allocation: GPS, GLONASS and Galileo navigational frequency bands.
Source: [15] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.3 ITU Regionally harmonized bands. Resolution 646(WRC-03) ”Public protection and dis-
aster relief” recommends use of regionally harmonized bands. Source: [23] . . . . . . . . 9
3.1 Typical planar antennas; (a) PIFA (Planar Inverted-F Antenna), (b) patch antenna, and (c)
MSA (Microstrip Antenna) [34]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.2 Representation of ILA structure [33]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.3 Representation of IFA structure [33]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.4 Side view of a rectangular microstrip antenna’s geometry showing a snapshot of the E-
field under the patch [35]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.5 Multiband antenna structure as presented in [2] (a) Structure representation; green for
top metallization and blue for bottom metallization, and a 3D view of the PCB inside the
plastic casing (b)Picture of the fabricated antenna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.6 Hand proximity effect on the antenna performance as studied in [43]. (a) S11 of antenna at
different proximities to hand model. (b)Antenna efficiency at different proximities to human
hand model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3.7 Antennas in a mobile phone: 1. GSM/WCDMA antenna, 2. Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combined

ceramic chip antenna, 3. GPS antenna. Source:[49]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.8 Examples of FDTD boundaries. Source: [53]. (a) FDTD voxel mesh of a GSM antenna.
(b)FDTD voxel mesh of a human head, with FDTD boundaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.9 (a) Geometry of the antenna reported in [60] for phone with metal frame (b) Picture of the
fabricated full-band LTE antenna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.10 Geometry of the proposed loop-slot combination antenna. (a) Whole tablet computer [61].
(b) Detailed dimensions of the antenna. (c) Experimental prototype of the antenna. . . . 24
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3.11 Hand effect study on antenna performance, [65] . (a) Configuration of hand grip smart-
phone at different positions (the metal rim is directly touched by the hand in each sim-
ulated mode). (b)Simulated results of hand grip at different positions: total efficiency
(mismatching loss included) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.1 Proposed meandered planar inverted F antenna of [70]. (a)Model from side point of view.
(b) Top schematic model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.2 Simulated return loss of the literature antenna [70]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4.3 Modified version of the meandered planar inverted F antenna of [70]. (a) From side point
of view. (b) From top side point of view. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4.4 Simulated return loss of the antenna shown in figure 4.3a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.5 Surface Current distribution for the dual band antenna model design [70]. (a) Distributed
surface current for 2.4 GHz . (b) Distributed surface current for 5.8GHz. . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.6 Meandered multiband antenna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.7 S11 of the meandered PIFA in 4.6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.8 Final antenna design model. (a) Final structure from the side point of view with shorting
plate sight. (b) Final structure from the side point of view with the some dimensions. . . . 31
4.9 Final antenna design model. (a) Base substrate metalization part.(b) Top substrate met-
alization part. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.10 S11 of the meandered PIFA with two substrates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.11 The prototype antenna with the coaxial cable ready to test.(a) Antenna prototype from the
front point of view. (b) Antenna prototype from the side point of view- special notice to the
meander and shorting plate. (c) The metalized part, in the top substrate. . . . . . . . . . 33
4.12 The 3D box model - .stl file. (a)The 3D sized box closed .stl file. (b)The 3D sized box
without the top part.stl file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.13 The 3D box model printed with blue PLA. (a) The 3D sized printed box opened. (b) The
3D sized printed box semi-opened. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.14 Antenna inside the 3D box model - S11 results. (a) S11 of the antenna inside of the open
box. (b) S11 of the antenna inside of the closed box. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
TM
4.15 Antenna inside the 3D box model (a) Antenna inside the closed box - CST simula-
TM
tion.(b) Antenna inside the open box - CST simulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
4.16 S11 measurement with the VNA E5071. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.17 S11 measurement with the VNA E5071- free space environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.18 S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results for free space envi-
ronment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.19 S11 measurement with the VNA E5071- open box environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
ment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.21 S11 measurement with the VNA E5071- open box environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
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4.22 S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results for closed box envi-
ronment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.23 S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results. . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.24 Simulation on free space environment, the designed antenna is inside the box with the lid
closed. (a) simulation made with mesh cells. (b) simulation made with mesh cells. . . . . 41
A.1 Segments of a GPS system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A.1
C.1 ITU Regionally harmonized bands. Resolution 646(WRC-03) ”Public protection and dis-
aster relief” recommends use of regionally harmonized bands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.5
E.1 Prototype antenna design masks, done with the QCAD software. These masks represent
the metallic parts of the base substrate and top substrate. (a) Base substrate with ground
plane. (b) Top substrate with slotted metallic part, plus the meander and screws slots. . . E.9
F.1 Effect of changing the size of the base substrate in S11 coefficient of the meandered PIFA
with two substrates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F.11
G.1 Results of efficiency and radiation patterns for the antenna directivity. (a) Farfield direc-
tivity of 1.3 with radiation efficiency value of 0.3931, total efficiency of 0.3339. (b) Farfield
directivity of 2.043 with radiation efficiency value of 0.9942, total efficiency of 0.9818.
(c) Farfield directivity of 3.403 with radiation efficiency value of 0.9856, total efficiency of
0.6571. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.13
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List of Acronyms
ARNS Aeronautical Radio Navigation Service

CIFA Coplanar inverted-F antenna
CST ———
EM ———
FCC Federal Communications Commision
FDTD ———
GNSS Global navigation satellite system
GPS Global Position System
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
GSM Global System for Mobile communications
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IFA Incerted-F antenna
ILA Inverted-L antenna
ISM Industrial, Scientific and Medical radio bands
ITU International Telecommunication Union
LAN Local Area Network
LTE Long Term Evolution
LTE Long-Term Evolution
MAN Metropolitan Area Network
MEG Mean Effective Gain
MIMO Multiple Input Multiple Output
MSA Microstrip antenna
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
PIFA Planar inverted-F antenna
RNSS Radio Navigation Satellite Services (
SAR Specific Absorption Rate
SI International System, (Système International)
TIS Total Isotropic Sensitivity
TRP -Total Radiated Power
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UMTS Universal Mobile Telecomuunications System
VHT Very High Throughput
VSWR Voltage Standing Wave Ratio
WLAN Wireless Local Area Network
WPAN Wireless Personal Area Network
Wi-Fi most known by Wireless Fidelity
hiperLAN High Performance Radio LAN
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Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 Motivation
Wireless communications devices and systems have progressed greatly and continue to show pros-
perity quickly every day. The growing of technology development changes the people’s lifestyle by
introducing a numerous of different devices and methods for their everyday needs. The number of
ways users have to communicate and share data between them is making communication more efficient
and portable, nowadays devices like mobile phones, tablets, portable computers are considered almost
indispensable.
This progress in wireless communication has required small devices and other equipment to the
developing of multiband communication. What permits to connect all these devices? What is that
one design detail essential to this question? These are fundamental questions in wireless devices
design. Antennas are the essential part of the communication system and devices design, responsible
for receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic signal these antennas brings great interest to study
and development.
All the evolution attached to the nowadays technology requires reliable portable products in terms of
communication and data transfer and this brings big importance to mobile systems [1]. An evolution of
devices is showned in figure 1.1. Since in mobile communications small antennas are integrated into
mobile terminals, antenna specifications like small-size, compactness, and light weight are fundamental
in the telecommunications market [2] [3].
By now, the importance of wireless antennas is clear but with the extensive demand for modern
mobile communications devices with big touchscreens and other components, the left space within the
device for an antenna is only a small percentage of the total occupied area. Therefore, multi-band
operations are also an important requirement to add to these antennas [4] [5]. Antenna designers have
constantly to keep up with communication development and innovation, creating new small and wireless
antennas, always considering low prices to compete with the market values [6].
In short, big relevance is given to miniaturization, multiband ability operations and improved the func-
tioning of nowadays antennas [7] [8]. As a result of big mobile communication systems development and
1
Figure 1.1: Evolution of telecommunications devices.
evolution, more frequency bands have been used to diverse wireless applications like machine control,
tracking devices, medical support, smartphones and others. All wireless communications services and
applications conduct to a more crowded usage of the frequency bands. Therefore, the reason to start
using more freer bands as an alternative [9]. There is also a tendency to use higher frequency bands
as they allow for greater data transfer capacity. Most used IEEE radio bands are S-band, L-band, and
C-band and examples of applications are GPS, LTE, GSM, UMTS,WLAN, ISM and Wi-Max. These ap-
plications have also their frequency bands allocated but they are within the previously mentioned bands
[10].
The advantages of wireless devices in daily task, the simplicity brought to users lives, the wide range
of technical possibilities, makes antenna study so important.
1.2 Problem statement
This dissertation study addresses the multiband antenna solutions to attenuate the problem of the
excess of electronic components in mobile terminals. Mobile terminals nowadays have to be considered
for many applications in just one device: Camera, Radio, Finger prints, Bluetooth, WI-FI, GPS, Phone
Call, Messages and others, are examples of those applications. Action is always needed in these
telecommunications technologies and one way to upgrade and smooth this problem impact in designing
antennas capable of multiband operations, so only one antenna is used for diverse applications. In this
dissertation, an antenna structure of small dimensions is proposed. An antenna that allows minimizing
the number the antennas used in mobile terminals and aims to operate at the ISM 2.45, 5.8 GHz and
GPS L1 1.5 GHz bands.
2
1.3 Dissertation structure
The contents of this thesis dissertation, consisting of five chapters, is briefly described below. This
present chapter is an introduction to the dissertation work. It presents a brief introduction to the theme,
the description of the dissertation concern and a listing of the dissertation including chapters summary.
Chapter 2 describes the most used frequency bands for communication purposes and the most
provided applications and services within these bands for handsets devices. It presents the choice of
desired resonances for the antenna performance of this dissertation.
In chapter 3, the state of the art concerning to design strategies on multiband antennas and small
antenna structures is presented. Several antennas have been designed and some of them are analyzed.
Chapter 4 describes the proposed multiband antenna design process, including the existing inspira-
tional antennas, the simulation work and the implemented antenna design, and assembly methods.
Chapter 5 concludes this dissertation and discusses the obtained results and the recommendations
for future research.
3
4
Chapter 2
Frequency bands and applications
The emerging of the usage of more frequency bands has driven to an increase of demand of an-
tenna’s multiband operation. This chapter introduces some of the most used frequency bands for mobile
terminals applications, namely, GPS 1.5 GHz and the ISM bands 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. It also gives an
overview of the possible applications to these bands. These three mentioned frequencies are chosen
as the intended main frequency resonances of interest to this work.
2.1 Frequency bands of interest
This dissertation is the design and project of a small multiband antenna for possible mobile terminals
applications. The antenna design is made aiming at some desired frequencies and it t is needed to
choose these frequencies. Studying the most used frequency bands for mobile communications, it is
noticeable that the IEEE radio bands S-band, L-band, and C-band are the prominent ones [11][12],[13] .
Wireless systems are very popular and useful for local (WLAN) and personal (WPAN) networks. In
terms of applications, most of those systems are allocated in ISM bands - Industrial scientific and medical
radio bands however, nowadays these are also used for low-power, short range mobile communications.
This use of these bands for mobile communications is possible because it does not interfere with
others industrial, scientific and medical ISM users.
A brief description of the IEEE L, S, C bands and ISM bands is given below.
L Band
The L-band ranges from 1 GHz to 2 GHz with a wavelength in between of 15-30 cm and it is common
to use this band to mobile communications, both satellite and terrestrial, but it is also the prime band
for navigation and positioning purposes. GSM communications and GPS systems are the most used
examples of applications.
5
S Band
The S-band ranges from 2-4 GHz with a wavelength in between of 15-7.5 cm and it is used for
wireless communications, mobile satellite communications and frequently is used by ship and weather
radars. As an example, NASA uses this band for satellite communications. Optimized for two-way
communications and content transmission, the S-band is also used in microwave applications, wireless
networking devices such as WLANs and Wi-Fi and applications related to Bluetooth use.
C Band
The C-band ranges from 4 to 8 GHz with a wavelength in between of 7.5-3.75 cm and it covers a
wide range of frequencies and therefore a broad number of applications, such as weather radar, satellite
communication, Wi-Fi, and other ISM band applications. As the C-band is also use for radar, there is
some occasional interference with some weather radars. In terms of mobile communications, the most
used frequency section in this band is the 5 GHz that ranges from 5.15 to 5.35 GHz, 5.47 to 5.725 GHz,
and 5.725 to 5.875 GHz. It is the most used for mobile terminals that use IEEE 802.11a Wi-Fi and other
ISM band applications.
Target frequencies
For design purposes, the antenna must be projected aiming at some defined frequencies. Consider-
ing the most used applications in mobile communications, it was target in this work to design an antenna
to operate at L1 1.5 GHz GPS, ISM 2.45 GHz and ISM 5.8 GHz. With, at least, three resonances, it
is achieved the main goal to obtain a multiband antenna and result in a capable antenna for nowadays
wireless devices like smartphones, and other handheld devices. Applications like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and
GPS are expected for the antenna to be developed in this work. The follow sections describe in more
detail the desired frequencies and their need in nowadays user applications.
2.2 GPS
Humans has a need to localize and orient themselves in various kinds of situations. This need led to
a demand for localization and positioning systems devices. That indicates good opportunities and new
challenges, not only to antenna designers, but also to all telecommunications market.
With nowadays satellites, it is possible to provide signals in an inexpensive way so that mobile ter-
minals can self-determine their location at a reduced cost. Due to this, the deployment of satellite
constellations to location services has experience a fast expansion. GPS represents one solution with
worldwide coverage, and although it is not the better solution to some specific situations like underwa-
ter, underground and even at indoors and dense urban areas, it continuous to be the most used one.
Constant improvements, and development of more localization systems has been made to overcome
these difficulties [12]. Time and position complement each other, for example time information can also
be used to infer about speed and acceleration by higher-order derivatives of the position. Hereupon, a
6
GPS Receiver should give the user information about position, time and even others applications like
weather and public places, next to the user [13].
The GPS system is established by three segments; space, control, and user. The segments are
represented in figure A.1 and described in appendix A.
Figure 2.1: Segments of a GPS system. Source: [14].
GPS uses both L-band and S-band into the transmission-receiving system. The L-band is used for
all the receivers, important in the three segments. However, the S-band is rather used in the control
segment where the ground antennas communicate and exchanges data information with the space
segment satellites.
GPS started to allocate two signals in L1 and L2 band, that included two ranging codes the C/A
(carrier acquisition) and P(Y) (precision code), both are neither explored nor studied in this thesis [11]. L1
is transmitted at 1575.42 MHz and L2 at 1227.60 MHz. With the development of localization technologies
and the number growth of GPS users, there’s been a need of using new signals in the L-band. The
addition of L5 GPS signal is one of the modernizations to improve the GPS operational capability. L5
signal is transmitted at 1176.45 MHz
GPS has nowadays L1, L2 and L5 bands in the GNSS L-band frequency allocation. GNSS satellites
transmit coded signals and navigation data that allow users to have positioning coordinates and estimate
traveling time. Thus, the interest of having GPS application in nowadays handheld devices. In figure
2.2 is possible to notice the L-band sectorized by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) multiple
services and different users [15]. Even if the main goal is to achieve the L1 band, the other frequencies
presented in the same figure are very interesting, like G bands for Glonass application and E bands for
Galileo application.
When working with a frequency band like L-band, crowded with multiple user applications and ser-
vices, signals are more vulnerable to interference. GNSS has two regions allocated to the Aeronautical
Radio Navigation Service (ARNS) [15]. Since no other user of the L band can interfere with the GNSS
signals and these regions are less vulnerable to interference than the others. The regions are the upper
7
L band (1 559-1 610 MHz), which contains the GPS L1, Galileo E1, Glonass G1 and Beidou B1 bands,
and to the lower L band (1 151-1 214MHz), which contains GPS L5, Glonass G3, Galileo E5 and Beidou
B2 bands [16].
Figure 2.2: GNSS frequency allocation: GPS, GLONASS and Galileo navigational frequency bands.
Source: [15]
In terms of GPS handheld devices, L1 is indeed the most used frequency band. L2 and L5 band
are L1 civil signal modernizations [17]. Often, there is an interest to developed multiband antennas
operating in two of these three bands, so systems can be implemented as dual-frequency and work the
two at the same time [18]. The devices prepared with dual-frequency receivers are more expensive and
customers tend to choose the most inexpensive technology [19]. Since the L1 band is the most used for
GPS purposes in this thesis, the antenna design will be made aiming at the 1.5 GHz frequency.
2.3 ISM bands
Industrial, scientific and medical radio bands (ISM bands) are an association of radio bands that
belong to the radium spectrum. The ISM bands were internationally allocated to scientific, medical and
industrial projects, rather than for communications. Examples of these are microwave ovens, industrial
heaters, and radio frequency welders. The active development of mobile wireless communications led
to a need of using higher frequencies for short range devices and platforms. Nowadays ISM bands
are also used for mobile communications, in part due to the license fees absence that led to the eco-
nomic attractiveness. Requirements such as higher capacity and higher transfer speed are essential for
handheld devices, so ISM antennas are very important [20].
There’s been a growth of ISM bands devices and users, and these bands are a key step towards the
development of wireless computing or multimedia applications. Important ISM applications have been
made, and one of the examples is a user-friendly application like elderly tracking [21].
8
The free license commissions condition of ISM frequency bands may differ according to different
regions and permissions [22]. According to with ITU, the world is divided into three regions as shown in
Figure 2.3 and a description about them is made in appendix C. Depending in what region the antenna
Figure 2.3: ITU Regionally harmonized bands. Resolution 646(WRC-03) ”Public protection and disaster
relief” recommends use of regionally harmonized bands. Source: [23]
must operate, there are different frequency sets allowed to the global ones. A description of those
frequency sets is presented in Appendix C. The antenna designer and the product developer have
always to take these details in consideration, when creating a new market product.
ISM band antennas can be used in many applications like RFID, health monitoring, smart devices
in car-home-phones industries, NFC, and others. For these thesis purpose, the goal is to achieve an
antenna suitable for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi applications, and for that, the focus is on the 2.4 GHz and 5.8
GHz ISM bands. A more detailed approach about these specific bands is presented in the next section.
ISM 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz
ISM was originally created by ITU in 1947. In that time, ITU designated twelve different ISM bands.
Thirty and eight years later, in 1985, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated ISM
2.45 and 5.8 GHz to unlicensed spread-spectrum for wireless LANs and mobile communications[24].
One obstacle of these bands (unlicensed) is the elevate number of users and absence of interference
protection. The product and antenna designers must consider possible mechanisms of interference
protection and the study the frequency range to choose the ones with less interference [25].
With ISM bands beneficial specifications of license-free and error-tolerant, antennas that are able to
operate in both 2.45 and 5.8 GHz ISM bands offers versatility needed in diverse applications, such as
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and others short/medium range data exchange. Examples of multiband antennas
working in 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequency bands are described in [26] [27] [28]. The 2.4 GHz ISM
band is the most used and thus the most crowded band. Bringing the 5.8 GHz ISM band to wireless
networks leads to less interference and besides that, both 2.45 and 5 GHz, ISM band unlicensed and
unlicensed users are considered secondary. This means they must share their part of the spectrum with
9
other services such as aeronautical, marine, satellite and tracking devices, that have priority access.
The secondary user must accept any interference from the others priority users [20]. Table 2.1 presents
some specifications comparison between the two ISM bands.
Table 2.1: Some specifications comparing 2.45 GHz with 5.8 GHz
ISM Band 2.45GHz 5.8GHz

Frequency Range 2.4 GHz-2.5 GHz 5.752 GHz-5.875 GHz
Bandwidth 100 MHz 150 MHz
Availability worldwide worldwide
Channel 3 non-overlapping channels 23 non-overlapping channels
Standard IEEE wireless b,g and n wireless a and n
Network range wider range shorter range
Interference higher lesser
Applicable standars 802.11b,g,n and Bluetooth 3,4,5 802.11a,n,ac and HiperLAN1,2
In table 2.1, it is possible to notice that the 5.8 GHz band is wider and has twenty more non-
overlapping channels than 2.4 GHz, so, communication can be faster in 5.8 GHz ISM band with greater
bandwidth and less interference.
With the standard 802.11n in 5.8 GHz ISM band, it is possible to combine adjacent channels to have
40 MHz channels instead of the typical 20 MHz channels. There are some disadvantages attached the
use of 5.8 GHz ISM band like the shorter network range, lower penetration in some solids obstacles and
some difficulties in integrations on already built wireless infrastructures. Under these circumstances, it
is very usual nowadays to concentrate these two band, in a dual-band antenna. In the next two items,
the two most used applications within the explained frequency bands are referred.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a technology to connect diverse solutions and thus connecting handheld devices such
as tablets and smartphones. It is one of the most used approaches to data and voice transport within
the wireless industry for interoperability and interconnecting portable and fixed telecom devices [29].
Bluetooth is wireless technology implemented in the ISM 2.4 GHz band with the range between 2.4-2.48
GHz depending on the working channel. The continuous growth of Bluetooth usage is primarily driven
by IoT applications. Bluetooth radio specifications have been developed and currently in 2017, there’s
five major versions of the Bluetooth standard. From version 1 to 3, it is called the Bluetooth classic
mode, and version 4 and 5 are within the Low energy (LE) Bluetooth mode. Bluetooth Classic and LE
are not compatible, and to provide both modes, the Bluetooth device must support Dual Mode [30].
Bluetooth Classic is divided into three classes (the three major versions) that are [31]:
• Class 1: Basic Rate (BR) for conventional Bluetooth with low data rate. This class, provide a
distance range up till 100 meters and it was launched and developed between years 1999–2003.
• Class 2: Enhanced Data Rate Classic (EDR) with Improved transmission speed. This class,
provide a distance range up till 10 meters and it was launched and developed between years
2004–2007.
10
• Class 3: High Speed (HS) with High-speed mode launched in 2009. This class, provide a distance
range usually up till 1 meter, but in free line of sight may be up to 10 meters.
Bluetooth Low energy was launched alongside with Bluetooth version 4.0 in 2010-2014 and the
devices that operate with this standard are expected to consume very low power. Version 5, first imple-
mented in 2016 and still under development, has greatly improved the LE concept by bringing higher
data rates, extended range and greater throughput [30].
Wi-Fi
The IEEE 802.11 group is a series of standards for wireless networks. These standards have higher
and greater range operations than Bluetooth devices and within them, there are five most known stan-
dards [32]:
802.11a was adopted in 1999 for high-speed wireless LAN/MAN and operates in the 5GHz frequency
band including: 5.15-5.35 GHz UNII band in U.S, 5,47-5,725 GHz in Europe and 5.725-5.85 ISM
band. The Data rate is 54 Mbps with typical range indoors is 30 meters and outdoors is 120
meters.
802.11b was adopted in 1999 for high-speed wireless LAN/MAN, alongside with the 802.11a. Operates
in the 2.4GHz frequency band including: 2.4-2.5 GHz ISM band. The Data rate is 11 Mbps with
typical range indoors is 30 meters and outdoors is 130 meters.
802.11g was adopted in 2003 and is compatible with the 802.11b, but with higher data rate. Operates
in the 2.4GHz frequency band including 2.4-2.5 GHz ISM band. The Data rate is 54 Mbps with
typical range indoors is 38 meters and outdoors is 130 meters.
802.11n was adopted in 2009 and it uses newer technologies comparing with the previous standards to
provide much higher speed data transport (e.g. OFDM and MIMO). It operates in both 2.4GHz and
5 GHz ISM frequency bands. The Data rate is 600 Mbps with typical range indoors is 68 meters
and outdoors is 251 meters.
802.11ac was adopted in 2014 also known as 5G WiFi and VHT, Very High Throughput the system
enables very high data rate for specific solutions, like stream high definition video and many other
files. Operates in 5.8 GHz ISM band (unlicensed). The Data rate is 1 Gbps for multi-station
operations and 500 Mbps on a single link. The typical range indoors is 27 meters and outdoors is
308 meters.
11
12
Chapter 3
Multiband Antennas for GPS and ISM

bands
In this chapter, the properties of multiband antennas study are presented as well as a discussion of
multiband antenna’s structures. Effects that may affect the antenna’s performance are also studied, like
casing effect and Human body proximity effect.
3.1 Parameters Study
Several studies focus on how multiband antennas can improve the quality of the provided services
on handheld devices. As previously stated, the user demand for more functionality on the handheld
devices leads to the need for compactness and multiband operability in nowadays antennas. For this,
it is expected that these antennas fully work in a compact closed space and near to other handset
components such as camera, batteries, and microphone. This leads to the need of studying the handset
antenna performance, based on the following parameters [6]:
Radiation pattern
The radiation pattern is a representation of the distribution of the radiated energy by the antenna into
space, as a function of direction; it can be plotted as a function of angular position and distance from the
antenna, and it is usually represented as a function of the EM fields intensity. This parameter is provided
TM
when the antenna radiation is simulated on the CST software.
Efficiency
Antenna efficiency is defined by the ratio of the radiated power of the antenna to the input power
accepted by the antenna. The efficiency describes how much an antenna is able to deliver its output
power effectively, with minimum losses in the transmission line.
13
Gain
The antenna gain is the ratio of the radiation intensity in a given direction with the radiation intensity
that would be obtained if the power accepted by the antenna were radiated isotropically. The antenna
gain takes into consideration the directivity of the antenna along with its effective performance and also
takes into account the losses that occur.
Mean effective gain (MEG)
MEG is the average of the measured gain on a surface around the handset. It is a figure of merit of
antennas that characterize the interaction between antennas and channels.
Total radiated power (TRP)
TRP represents the power density received over a sphere around the handset. The received power
density is evaluated at It is an active measurement, in that a powered transmitter is used to transmit
through the antenna. The total received power is calculated and summed up over all possible angles,
and is measured the radiation in an actual live system.
Total isotropic sensitivity (TIS)
TIS describes the minimum input signal power that yields an acceptable system performance param-
eter, such as bit error rate, sampled at points over the sphere around the handset in both polarizations.
This sensitivity value is a measure of the average sensitivity of a receiver antenna system.
Voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR)
VSWR represents the ratio of the maximum voltage to the minimum voltage in a standing wave. This
ratio represents the mismatch between the impedance of the antenna, the transmission line and the
other circuitry elements of the handset. The VSWR value should be as close as possible to one. Since
higher values of VSWR leads to higher impedance mismatch wich cause power reflection and loss of
transmission efficiency.
Return loss
The return loss represents the ratio between the incident power Pi with the reflected power Pr and
can be expressed as:
Pr
|S11 | = 10log10 ( ) (3.1)
Pi
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is defined as the frequency range over which the handset antenna is designed to operate.
Often, −10 dB return loss values is used to define the impedance bandwidth.
14
Specific absorption rate (SAR)
SAR represents the ratio at which energy is accumulated in a given volume of human skin tissue.
This subject is more detailed on section 3.4.2.
Design guidelines
The antenna designer has some guidelines when projecting the antenna so that it can achieve a
good performance. For impedance match, it is usually stablished that the voltage standing wave ratio is
VSWR < 3 and the return loss is S11 < −10 dB. For the mean effective gain a low value is required,
being 0dBi the ideal, since it provides a low directivity pattern to minimize signal variations as handset
position is varied. For radiation efficiency, it is required that the minimum value should be about 50% and
the bandwidth should be about 8 to 12% of the central frequency (depending on the operating band).
Typical antenna’s structures types used in mobile terminals are presented and detailed in next sec-
tions. There are also guidelines regarding the antenna dimensions. In a handset device the typical
maximum antenna volume is around 5 cm3 , corresponding to typical dimensions of 35 × 35 × 4 mm3 ,
whereas the printed circuit board size of a bar shape phone is 100×40 mm2 . But due to the development
of smartphones and their applications, this dimensions are often larger [33].
3.2 Multiband antenna structures
In this section, it is presented the type of antenna structures mostly used to obtain miniaturization and
multiband operations, required for a typical telecommunications handset device. The main objective is
to achieve the highest possible efficiency, and at the same time enough bandwidth to cover the required
bands [6].
Types of antenna structures
Choosing the type of structure for the desired antenna, it depends on the wanted characteristics for
the antenna. The existing possible structures and combinations are diverse, but this section is focused
on studying antennas structures for mobile terminals specifications. For this, it is required to consider
what structures can be applied to achieve multiband operations, and where miniaturization techniques
can be applied. The most well-known and used antenna’s structures, considering their versatility, are
based on monopoles, ILA (Inverted -L Antenna), PIFA (Planar Inverted F Antenna), CIFA (coplanar
inverted-F), and combinations between them. Patch antennas and microstrip antennas (MSA) are com-
mon as well especially for GNSS reception. PIFA, MSA and patch antenna are represented in Figure
3.1 [33].
PIFA A planar Inverted F antenna structure have rectangular form, and is charged by a feed probe.
This structure evolved gradually from two ILA and IFA structures in order to overcome limitations
in their initial radiation patterns. IFA and ILA structures are represented in Figures 3.2 and 3.3.
15
Figure 3.1: Typical planar antennas; (a) PIFA (Planar Inverted-F Antenna), (b) patch antenna, and (c)
MSA (Microstrip Antenna) [34].
Figure 3.2: Representation of ILA structure [33].
PIFA is very similar to IFA structure but has an increased bandwidth when compared to IFA. The
difference resides on the IFA arm replacement by a plated parallel to the ground plane [34].
MSA A microstrip antenna may have multiple variations but the simpler structure is based on a metallic
patch printed on a rectangular and thin substrate that has a ground plane on the bottom. Figures
3.4 represents the MSA structure from above and side views. A literature example is a triple layer
microstrip antenna fed by microstrip line through the electromagnetic coupling, and it was achieved
to cover 2.45 GHz band and upper range 5.725-5.875 GHz band [26].
Figure 3.3: Representation of IFA structure [33].
16
Figure 3.4: Side view of a rectangular microstrip antenna’s geometry showing a snapshot of the E-field
under the patch [35].
Miniaturization and multiband strategies
Alongside with these structures, there are some design strategies to obtain miniaturization and multi-
band operations, such as the modification of the main radiator or the modification of the ground plane.
This technique of altering the main radiator might be done by implementing multiple branches in the
structure, which allows the excitation of multiple resonant frequencies, at their fundamental mode. An
example is a two branches antenna separated by a feeding strip. The two branches have different sizes,
the shorter one generates a higher resonant mode and the longer one a lower resonant mode [3].
Another technique to achieve additional resonances frequencies is to implement multi-stacking or
multi-layering due to the creation of new currents paths. Modifications can also be done to the an-
tenna structure geometry by introducing slots. These addition creates new resonant frequencies and
band coverage by separating current paths [36] and sustains the antenna miniaturization for multiband
wireless devices.
To obtain a more compact design using only one radiator without splitting to branches, and conceiving
multiband operations at the same time, it is required the use of other techniques. Examples of those
techniques are meandering, bending, spiraling and folding into a 3-D geometry. Hereupon, it is possible
to elongate a single radiator without decreasing the compactness of the antenna’s structure. The most
used technique is the meandered geometry that minimizes the overall size, and preserves the original
length of the radiating element [36].
These techniques are not necessarily used independently. To achieve multiband operations with-
out jeopardizing the antenna’s performance, many antenna designers use the combination of multiple
techniques in the same antenna structure. An example of multiple techniques combination is an an-
tenna based on a meandered IFA structure with resonance in 915 MHz that with a folded IFA strip was
achieved the 1.2 GHz resonance and with an a slot insertion in the IFA strip was achieved an additional
resonance, as seen in [2]. The occupied area of this antenna is 25 × 40 × 10 mm2 , and achieves to cover
L1, L2 and GPS standard bands. The final structure of this antenna is illustrated in Figure 3.5.
An alternative solution to obtain and determining the resonant frequency, is a better employment of
the structure ground plane. The relevance in the radiation process of the ground plane is sometimes
underestimated, since implementing parasitic elements such as slots, conductive strip to lengthen the
ground plane or even using traps to electrically can reduce the ground plane and thus obtain better
17
(a)
(b)
Figure 3.5: Multiband antenna structure as presented in [2] (a) Structure representation; green for top
metallization and blue for bottom metallization, and a 3D view of the PCB inside the plastic casing
(b)Picture of the fabricated antenna.
antenna performance. As an example, we have coplanar elements used as a parasitic element and
since these elements lie on the same plane as the ground plane, a better usage of the ground plane
was obtained [37].
The parasitic elements are employed to widen the original bandwidth, and the driven element con-
tinues mostly to act as the main radiator. A triple band can be achieved, for example, by an employment
of a cross slot in the ground plane [38].
Inserting a slot into a ground plane causes the primary radiator’s electric current to reroute its path
along the conducting surface of the ground. This also leads to an increase of the electrical length of
the ground. There are some cases that with an extended length, the parasitic elements can act as the
second/main radiator. Another example is given in [39], where the purposed antenna, with an occupied
area of 18 × 37 mm2 and only two metallic strip elements, has employed a parasitic stub as the main
radiator, a driven stub as a choker and a incorporated virtual slot structure. With this structure, it was
achieved three separate resonance modes covering six standard bands.
There are different techniques used to achieve many frequency bands and compactness character-
istics. In another exemplar antenna four techniques were used in the same structure [7]. It was used a
meandering strip, an antenna slot, parasitic branches and a stub on the ground plane.
In terms of designing and manufacturing a small multiband antenna, it is also needed to pay attention
to the design parameters, described in the previous section, as well as the feeding and loading structures
like the matching network, inductive loads, capacitive loading, feed/ground connection loading, parasitic
elements and others [40]. Others structures alongside with performance strategies are presented in the
literature such as, an antenna with an occupied volume of 27 × 25 × 0.8 mm3 , where it was used a
monopole with a meander line [41], an antenna with an occupied area of 34 × 15 mm2 , in this one, it was
used a compact slotted antenna composed by an S-shaped slot and an inverted-L slot on the ground
plane [42] and an impressive small occupied area of 9×7 mm2 that covers of WLAN 2.4 GHz and 5.2/5.8
GHz bands was presented in [27].
18
3.3 Literature review of small multiband antennas
It should be noted that there is a strong research activity in multiband terminal antennas development,
with special focus in miniaturization and compactness solutions. The antenna to be developed in this
thesis, has to cover three different bands, GPS 1.5 GHz, ISM 2.4 GHz and ISM 5.8 GHz. The must
have small dimensionse enabling it’s implementation on handset devices, like handheld tablets and
smartphones.
To develop an antenna that comply with these requirements,special attention is needed to take spe-
cial attention to specifications like the gain, efficiency, the radiation performance, the input impedance,
and also the SAR values, as explained at section 3.1. To minimize the antenna dimensions, to improve
the antenna stability and performance, it is need to review to possible antenna structures, as well as
the associated techniques like meandering and implemented parasitic elements. Most currently used
built-in antennas in several handsets, includes MSA, inverted-F shaped wire-form antennas, and PIFAs
types of structures.
Furthermore, for testing the antenna, active and passive experiments are needed. Passive testing
is simpler and usually done during the initial testing and measuring part, when antenna configuration
is still being optimized. An active test is when antenna behavior is analyzed, especially on the handset
in use. The passive test serves to caracterize the VSWR, the radiation patterns and efficiency of the
antenna placed in handset prototype. It can be done by placing for example a coaxial cable or microstrip
line between the antenna and an input connector.
In passive tests, it should be analyzed different configurations for studying the reflection coefficient,
like the antenna by itself, antenna implemented on handset with a battery, the antenna with the handset,
and with casing [2]. In an active test, external wire connections might not be used, instead, for example,
a call to the complete operating handset can be made, in an anechoic chamber, so measurements can
evaluate the total radiated power and the total isotropic sensitivity. This type of test is reported in [26],
for example for distinct kinds of antennas. These parameters will determine the antenna’s performance
within the user utilization; both tests are important since a handset could pass the passive test, and still
not having a satisfactory performance when doing an active test.
In antenna design, as already discussed, it is important to test the prototype antenna close to a
human body, and evaluate the return loss and SAR values. As an example of this analysis, a comparison
of S11 between a ”No Hand” scenario with scenarios that differ the hand position in the antenna , is
studied [43]. As expected, the antenna is detuned when the hand model is introduced closer to the
antenna, as seen in Figure 3.6a. It was also studied the antenna efficiency at different proximity to
human hand model, showing that it changes significantly with each millimeter between hand model and
antenna S11 of antenna, at different proximity to the hand model, Figure 3.6b.
To evaluate SAR values, it is needed to measure the antenna in free-space environment, the antenna
with influence of a hand model and place net to a head model. The angle of radiation and distance to
the user influences the performance and SAR values, an example is to study the effect of distances and
inclination angles, between human head and mobile phone, measuring SAR values [44]. The results
19
(b)
(a)
Figure 3.6: Hand proximity effect on the antenna performance as studied in [43]. (a) S11 of antenna at
different proximities to hand model. (b)Antenna efficiency at different proximities to human hand model.
indicated that increasing the distance between the user head and the antenna, leads to a decrease in
SAR values. Moreover, it is needed to investigate the return losses in passive tests, to perform this
analysis one can resort and to electromagnetic computation methods.
GPS antennas for mobile terminals
Alongside with positioning and localization research, the integration of communication and position-
ing on only one system, has also emerged. The positioning system is integrated into communication
technologies, like in mobile phones, handheld tablets, and cellular base stations.
Civilian use demands a mobile terminal to provide communications, GPS, Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-
Fi and other radio applications, all in a small size and at a reasonable cost. A GPS antenna applied to
handheld devices requires miniaturization and, most of the time, the antenna performance is improved
when integrated with other radio services on the terminal.
There are diverse challenges to design a GPS antenna for mobile terminals, for instance the very
reduced space available. If the chosen antenna structure is a bowtie dipole or a spiral antennas, that
actually have a good bandwidth, the antennas would be bigger than the nowadays handheld devices
(smartphones, tablets, and others) [45] [46]. Another challenge is the antenna size itself; antenna
designers have to use more complex shapes and feed alternatives, such as the combinations with PIFA-
IFA structures and circularly polarized antenna [47][48]. An example of a mobile phone chip structure
is presented in Figure 3.7. This presented mobile phone structure is a good example of the occupied
area by the three antennas. This is the reason why it is so important to develop multiband antennas. An
antenna capable to operate in the three bands, GSM, Wi-Fi and GPS, would reduce the three antennas
presented in the mobile phone to just one antenna.
The interference and isolation related to the radiation of the implemented antenna Is also a challenge
to be taken in consideration. These characteristics should be studied trough simulations and practical
20
Figure 3.7: Antennas in a mobile phone: 1. GSM/WCDMA antenna, 2. Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combined
ceramic chip antenna, 3. GPS antenna. Source:[49].
measurements, to be capable of accurately characterizing them. When coexisting with other antenna
structures, interference characteristics can be highly important to the power gain study. But, if the
antenna is well-designed, there is no interference and the antennas can even complement each other.
In this research work, the focus is on handheld devices like smartphones, smartwatches [50] and
handheld tablets [51] [3], that can achieve multiband including receiving GPS signal in L1 and L2 fre-
quency bands. As mobile terminals, smartphones can contain different positioning systems namely,
satellite-based systems, local network based systems, and sensor-based systems [52]. To a GPS re-
ceiver, in a handheld device, configure user localization it is recurrent to use wireless-assisted GPS.
Alongside the GPS signal from orbiting satellites, it is also used the information about the handheld
device’s signal. This is a way to provide more coverage and more accurate localization, both indoor and
outdoor, where localization is still difficult. Some wireless-assisted systems can work inside buildings,
under dense foliage and in city areas where traditional receivers cannot receive signals. One disadvan-
tage, is that integrating additional hardware, necessarily implies additional costs, higher power consump-
tion, and higher complexity. However, these additional hardware requirements are, often present in the
handheld device. Typical positioning solutions make use these mechanisms, that are present in wireless
technologies, such as power control and synchronization schemes, mitigating the disadvantages and
turning them into advantages for a handheld device antenna designer [12].
Electromagnetic computation method
The most applied simulation method for antennas of small dimensions is a numeric method called
Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD).
This method helps to characterize an antenna by his wide band frequency response, using a pulsed
excitation. Based on a numerical solution of Maxwell’s equation, the FDTD method turns possible the
antennas current propagation modulation in different environments. It solves the differential equations
using central differential scheme, where is incorporated the reflection and EM radiation effects. In terms
of simulation, this method turns the computational space into voxels on non-uniform mesh, each voxel
represents a different cell in volume, showing it in 3D dimensions. Small voxels are used in regions where
great geometric detail or high field gradient areas, are needed [53]. Examples of FDTD boundaries are
represented on Figures 3.8a and 3.8b.
21
(b)
(a)
Figure 3.8: Examples of FDTD boundaries. Source: [53]. (a) FDTD voxel mesh of a GSM antenna.
(b)FDTD voxel mesh of a human head, with FDTD boundaries.
FDTD employs a solving approach which is usually called a leap-frog approach. First the electric
filed is solved, then on the next instance the magnetic field is solved, this iterative process is repeated
until a solution is achieved. At every algorithm’s step the E and H fields are obtain for every point within
the computational domain. For the simulation to be able to produce results, it is required to specify the
materials of each voxel and their parameters, such as permeability, permittivity, and conductivity. The
project to be simulated, can be feeded with different sources like, a plane wave , current on a coaxial
cable or an electric field [54] [55].
3.4 Antenna Performance effects
An ideal antenna would radiate all the feed energy with 100% efficiency, however, the losses need
to be considered. This section addresses some relevant issues in antenna design in terms of antenna’s
surrounding effects, such as casing and human proximity effect.
3.4.1 Casing effects
A handset design includes different radiating elements placed near the space of the antenna, causing
interference between them and increase the antenna design complexity. In handset manufacturing, it
is fundamental to take into consideration the materials used to cover the handset. Because of the
packaging, the nearby metallic structures, the antenna casing and the materials used in these elements,
sometimes it is needed to reconsider the antenna design. Thus, the importance of the materials used
in the antenna nearby structures, typically, there the most used materials are plastic casing and metal
framing.
In terms of plastic materials, the relative dielectric permittivity is usually between 2.5 − 3.5, with a loss
tangent between 0.02 − 0.20. The plastic material does not interfere deeply in the antenna performance,
but since plastic is an isolator material it can cause a shift in the existing resonant frequencies towards
lower values [40]. Many studies have been made about the effects of plastic casing [2], [56] , [57], and
although metal framing and metal casing has been widely used, the plastic approach continues to be
22
the most used , causing less interference in the antenna performance and, sometimes the plastic effect
can even be insignificant on the antenna performance, [58]. When using a metal frame or casing, the
appearance of the handset device improves, becoming more durable and resilient.
Metal framing leads to some difficulties in charging the handset and in the current conductivity of the
antenna [59]. There are different solutions to engage the metal framing within the antenna structure.
An optimal solution it would be to adopt the metal frame as most of the antenna radiating element
simplifying the process of antenna design and reducing cost and manufacturing complexity. An example
of the metal frame used as the only antenna radiating element is illustrated in Figure 3.9, [60].
Figure 3.9: (a) Geometry of the antenna reported in [60] for phone with metal frame (b) Picture of the
fabricated full-band LTE antenna.
This leads to the use of a metal shield to minimize the impact of radio-frequency interference, creating
the isolation between the diverse subsystems of the handset. When covering a large area with a metal
shield, it is possible to decrease the involved costs and to simplify the fabrication and the shield assembly.
However, the metal shield’s properties can act as a ground plane amplifying the radiated noise.
The antenna designer is then forced to do a trade-off between the antenna performance, the involved
cost, and also the interference caused by the amount of metal used in the device. These trade-off
causes the existence of several ways of implementing metal casing and metal shields in the handset
device. In [61], a compact dual-band with loop-slot mode combined antenna for a tablet computer with
WLAN applications is presented. It is opted to decrease the coupling effects from the metal casing,
and to made a full metallic bottom cover of the tablet computer. In experimental results, this antenna
had reliable performance when placed in a tablet computer with a full metallic back cover, and a highly
metallic surrounding environment. The geometry of this proposed antenna is illustrated at figure 3.10.
Another example of integration of the metal frame is the use of an intrinsic slot between metal frame
and the metal ground of the handset, incorporated as one part of the handset antenna, [62]. Handsets
such as smartwatch devices have the design approach somewhat different; the antenna must be inte-
grated into the front metal frame due the lack of space and the watch mechanism. However, it is possible
that the antenna is not embedded in the device but blended in with the appearance of the watch, [63]. In
this case, the antenna can be considered external and has better RF performance, when compared with
internal antennas. Another possible case is that instead of a rectangular structure as in the previous
23
Figure 3.10: Geometry of the proposed loop-slot combination antenna. (a) Whole tablet computer [61].
(b) Detailed dimensions of the antenna. (c) Experimental prototype of the antenna.
one, the antenna designer uses a circular metal frame structure [50]. Another smartwatch example is
where the design main objective is to integrate a loop antenna into a front metal frame with Bluetooth
operation (2.4 GHz) [63].
3.4.2 Body proximity effect
The human tissue conductivity effects the surroundings of the human body, including the electric
and magnetic fields around it. For instance, when in proximity to human tissue, the electric field can
decrease, and the magnetic field will increase, according to the boundary conditions on electromagnetic
fields (EM fields). These alterations on the surroundings will also affect the handset device antenna
performance. So, it is required to analyze the human body effects on the antenna behavior and system
performance [5].
A satisfactory compact antenna to be implemented on handset device needs to be the most insen-
sitive as possible to the proximity of the human body. For achieving this requirement, it is necessary
to study the best antenna’s location on the device due to the active interaction between user handling
and antenna location. The user usage of handset device may differ in several ways, which changes the
user’s placement of the handset device in their hands, and the distance between the handset and their
heads (smartphone case). This will strongly influence the antenna’s efficiency performance because it
changes the radiation pattern and the antenna’s impedance [40] [64]. In some cases, it can decrease the
radiated power and also detune the handset’s antenna changing the original purpose. A study is made
of the user’s hand effect on the performance of an antenna, only differing the hand position against
the handset prototype [65], and in Figure 3.11a is illustrated the three different positions used. In Figure
3.11b the influences of the hand position in the antenna’s total efficiency are presented, and is noted that
the two desired frequency in the reffered study, are a little detuned are a little detuned and widened for
different gripping positions due to the power absorbed by the user’s hand. The antenna’s performance
also varies, depending the hand’s touch on the metal rim.
Attached to human body effects, there is also a second issue to analyze. The interaction between
user and handset device not only affects the handset performance but also user’s health standards,
since the antenna radiates EM waves, and it can penetrate the human body tissue and, consequently,
contribute to serious health risks [41]. For studying the interaction between handset device EM radiation
and its absorption on human tissue, the requirement of specific absorption rate (SAR) is introduced
24
(a)
(b) .
Figure 3.11: Hand effect study on antenna performance, [65] . (a) Configuration of hand grip smartphone
at different positions (the metal rim is directly touched by the hand in each simulated mode). (b)Simulated
results of hand grip at different positions: total efficiency (mismatching loss included)
Specific absorption rate
There has been a growing concern about the health effects of exposure to EM waves. Due to this
SAR specification, is very important to antenna designers. A device that doesn’t comply with the SAR
standards it cannot be release on the market so if SAR is a high value, the antenna must be changed
because it means the transmitted power is dropped.
The SAR value represents the quantity of RF power is absorbed by the surrounding including the
user. This ratio can be expressed as
σ
SAR = |E|2 (3.2)
2p
where p stands for the material density in kg/m3 , σ stands for electric conductivity in Sm−1 , and E is
the electric field in V m−1 introduced by the radiated energy. The SAR value is expressed usually in SI
units W kg −1 and refers to averages over cells weighing 1g or 10g.
The standard limits can differ between countries, for example, European countries, Australia and
−1 −1
Japan hold the standard of 2.0 W Kg10g , and USA, Canada and Korea hold the standard of 1.6 W Kg1g .
The ideal is to have the shortest SAR possible; one way to reduce SAR is to decrease the radiated
power. However, this can decrease the required antenna’s performance. Another approach is to take
into consideration, is the location of the antenna in the handset device if the antenna is at the bottom of,
for example, a smartphone, it will reduce the SAR [1] because it will keep the radiating part of the phone
as far as possible from the human head, especially the brain region.
Other methods of reducing SAR includes impedance matching changes and parasitic resonators,
which will disturb the antenna’s radiation pattern are presented in the literature [40], [66] and [67]. It
is also possible, for example, to create a current distribution in the antenna using the inherent antenna
structure as a way of reduncing body effects [68].
25
Chapter 4
Multiband antenna design and test
This Chapter presents the antenna design process and the proposed antenna structure. The materi-
als characterization and the effects of some parameters variation are also addressed in this chapter. In
TM
section 4.1.1 shows the proposed antenna simulations results using the CST software.
The antenna construction process is described in section 4.2 and the experimental results tested at
the laboratory are shown in section 4.3, as well as a comparison between simulated and experimental
results of the antenna.
4.1 Antenna Design
For antenna design purposes, as previously referred, it is chosen the resonances in L1 band, ISM
2.45 GHz and ISM 5.8 GHz bands in the antenna performance. In mobile communications, those bands
are used for GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and tracking. Considering these frequencies and their corresponding
bands, an antenna review was made and used for the antenna design process. The proposed antenna
in this thesis is inspired on the antennas structures referred to in table 4.1.
Table 4.1: Antenna solutions with similarities with the proposed antenna.
Referred Antenna Occupied Area [mm2 ] Cover Band

Ref. [51] 6×7 GPS 1.49-1.6 GHz,WLAN 2.4-2.68 , 4-6 GHz
Ref. [3] 25.5 × 7 GPS 1.575 GHz, WLAN 2.4, 5.3, 5.8 GHz
Ref. [69] 45 × 15 GPS, WiMAX, WLAN 5.2, 5.8 GHz
Ref. [2] 40 × 25 L1/L2 GPS and LoRA
diameterinner = 52 mm;
Ref. [50] GPS 1.575 GHz, WLAN 2.4,5.8 GHz
diameterouter = 55 mm
Ref. [61] 21 × 7.5 WLAN 2.4, 5.8 GHz
This section is divided by two main topics, the Design Evolution and the Final Design. The first
one gives a more precise idea of the simulation work and the distinct phases of the antenna structure. It
gives the first proposed antenna model. The second one gives the final antenna model; which prototype
was assembled in IST campus. Both topics are follow with some of the parameters’ variation effect in
the antenna performance.
26
4.1.1 Design Evolution
For a more broad and understandable study of antenna structures, the CST Microwave Studio is
used for simulations. The presented results were all obtained through free space simulations.
The simulation work supports the sensitivity and analysis to several parameters. In the CST software,
there are diverse ways to experiment all sorts of parameters combinations, and with parameter sweep it
was reached some plausible combinations, for which are consider satisfactory results. All the simulation
work, allowed to notice that different ground plane dimensions, different slots thickness, and location
leads to different frequency bands.
The first study began on taking consideration an antenna structure suggested in [70]. This antenna
is built on a small ground plane and promises to cover the following frequencies: 1.4 GHz, 2.1 GHz,
3GHz and 5.7 GHz. In Image 4.1a, 4.1b and 4.2 is possible to find the proposed antenna, some detailed
dimensions, and their simulated return loss coefficient.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.1: Proposed meandered planar inverted F antenna of [70]. (a)Model from side point of view.
(b) Top schematic model.
With the enthusiasm about this antenna, a model with the same structure and dimensions is pro-
grammed in CST software. But once simulated with various parameters sweeps, it is concluded that
only had two evident resonances to be considered. Although the results were not as expected by litera-
ture, it is an interesting structure. So, it is decided to continue to explore this structure aiming the desired
resonances. Through variations of the thicknesses, the slots, their location, and the ground plane’s di-
27
Figure 4.2: Simulated return loss of the literature antenna [70].
mensions it is reached a dual band antenna structure with resonances in ISM bands 2.45 GHz and 5.8
GHz. In Figure 4.3 is possible to see the CST model of this antenna and the corresponding return loss
results in Figure 4.4.
(a) (b)
Figure 4.3: Modified version of the meandered planar inverted F antenna of [70]. (a) From side point of
view. (b) From top side point of view.
The plot on figure 4.4 gives to this antenna structure great interest to go forward with the design, as
the results are favorable to the desired resonances. The Plot presents the frequency 2.4526 GHz with
an S11 of −32.6dB, and the frequency 5.7684 GHz with an S11 of −36.3 dB. The two resonances have
a bandwidth below the condition S11 ≤ −10, that in away guarantees that the two frequencies are in the
ISM 2.45GHz and 5.8GHz bands. Studying and observing the distributed surface current it is possible to
note the slots influence into the existing resonances. In figure 4.5, 4.5a, and 4.5b the distributed surface
current for 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz is shown.
As the will is to have at least three resonances in the antenna, and one in the GPS band, the previous
antenna structure had to undergo some alterations. It is common to use meandered elongation to obtain
another resonance, so inspired by literature [2] , [71] and [61], it is implemented a meandered line to
the metal(copper) top patch of the antenna. This meandered elongation is added to the previous slotted
antenna, aiming the low frequency for GPS propagation.
Since 5.8 GHz and 2.4 GHz resonances were already pronounced in the antenna, the meander
must cover the 1.5GHz resonance. With the wavelength formula, equation 4.1 and 4.2, it is possible to
28
Figure 4.4: Simulated return loss of the antenna shown in figure 4.3a.
(a) (b)
Figure 4.5: Surface Current distribution for the dual band antenna model design [70]. (a) Distributed
surface current for 2.4 GHz . (b) Distributed surface current for 5.8GHz.
calculate a minimum length, lm accordingly with a a quarter of a wavelength, equation 4.3.
c
λ= (4.1)
f
3 × 108
λ= → λ = 0.2m (4.2)
1.5 × 109
λ
lm = = 0.05m = 50mm (4.3)
4
The meander was placed closer to the top part of the patch where the lower frequency (2.45 GHz)
was more pronounced. In a way, the substrate remains below the patch and meander. With an intensive
work of simulating and variation of numerous parameters, a second model was reached. This second
model has a meander of a total 72.7 mm, with different thickness in different locations as we can see in
image 4.6.
This model has also the location of the shorting plate changed compared with the original in [70].
Cutting the substrate to make possible the shorting plate passage through the substrate (less than 1mm
thickness) is hard to obtain in laboratory. So, changing this aspect to a shorting plate that connects the
substrate with the metallic part from the side, perpendicular to them, makes the circuit more practicable.
29
Figure 4.6: Meandered multiband antenna.
The simulated return loss of this model is shown in Figure 4.7. The S11 coefficient shows that there are
four main resonances, three of them within the desired frequency range.
Figure 4.7: S11 of the meandered PIFA in 4.6 .
4.1.2 Proposed antenna design
The previous antenna design has some difficult properties to reach. A structure with the metal part
suspended only by a shorting plate it is very difficult to obtain. This dissertation is made with the support
of IST radio frequency laboratory equipment, and although it is of high end profile, without any external
sponsoring, it is necessary to adapt the model to favorable assembly conditions.
Keeping the same design of the metal part, a second substrate was added to the design for better
support the antenna stability. The second substrate is then smaller than the first one, larger than the top
patch, plus the meander occupied area. It is larger to gain some aditional space to install some screws,
bringing more stability to the antenna structure.
The proposed antenna of this dissertation is a slotted antenna with a meandered part, and it is made
with a double substrate that has a total dimension of 40 × 40 mm2 , and is represented in Figure 4.8 and
Figure 4.9. For the antenna metallic part, it was used copper and a gold-plated sheet for the shorting
plate. To keep the distance between substrates it is used plastics screws M2.5. The two substrates are
30
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.8: Final antenna design model. (a) Final structure from the side point of view with shorting plate
sight. (b) Final structure from the side point of view with the some dimensions.
made of Rogers RO3035TM , and the 3D printed box is made with PLA, that has a permittivity of 1.3. It
was used a 50 Ω EZ34 coaxial cable terminated by a SMA connector.
To achieve the final antenna design, it was again necessary, to adjust the slots and meander dimen-
sions through diverse simulations. A satisfactory S11 result for the frequency 1.5 GHz, turn out to be
more difficult to achieve in the antenna propagation. Results of the S11 coefficient are in figure 4.10.
In figure F.1 in appendix F, it is possible to notice the difference in S11 only by changing the base
substrate dimension. Those differences are not too far apart, but support the fact that when in small
antennas, any dimension changes can modify the antenna radiation and consequently the return loss
coefficient.
The patterns in the appendix G have information about the antenna radiation efficiency total effi-
ciency, and as well, the directivity. With these values, it is possible to analyze the radiation direction at
the desired frequencies. Increased directivity implies, for example, a more directional antenna. Usually,
in mobile and GPS antennas, it is not advisable highly directional gains. Those are antennas that must
be ready to receive signal from different directions. In this dissertation results analysis, it is possible
to notice that for 2.45 and 5.8 GHz there is no problem in fulfilling reasonable values for directivity and
radiation efficiency, but for 1.5 GHz it is not the same case. The presented directivity for the 1.5 GHz
resonance is 1.3, and although, usually is good to have high directivity, the antenna radiation efficiency
can be affected and in this case is lower than what wanted (bigger than 50 %).
31
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.9: Final antenna design model. (a) Base substrate metalization part.(b) Top substrate metal-
ization part.
Figure 4.10: S11 of the meandered PIFA with two substrates.
4.2 Prototype construction
4.2.1 Antenna assembling
Throughout the antenna project, study and simulations, a small antenna structure was developed,
capable of multiband operations like shown in section 4.1.2, image 4.1b, and image 4.1a. The following
accomplishment was to construct the antenna’s final prototype. The prototype is composed of two
32
substrates which material is Rogers RO3035 TM , whose properties are in the datasheet in the appendix
D.
Each substrate has a metalized copper part, one of the substrates is dedicated to the ground plane
(base substrate), and the other one (top substrate) to support the top slotted patch and meander.
The coaxial cable constituted by external and internal conductors, for the antenna’s feeding must pass
through the base substrate, and the internal conductor goes up till the metallization of the top substrate.
This is a meticulous work, due to the reduced dimensions of the inner conductor, the slots and the
meander of the antenna.
First thing for the prototype construction process, is to export a file .dfx, which is a dimensional ver-
TM TM
sion of the antenna’s metal (copper) parts of CST , to the QCAD software, which is an application
for computer aided drafting (CAD) in two dimensions (2D). These .dxf files are made in order to do cir-
cuits masks, used in the printed circuits fabrication, with the photolithography technique. Themasks that
were done in a scale of 1:4 are presented in appendix E. The above-mentioned masks are used to print
a real-size transparent film of the circuit. This film is transferred to a copper surface, after suffering UV
lighting. The copper surface that did not change from UV lighting, is removed with diverse chemicals.
Once the printed circuits are done it is needed to solder the EZ-34 feeding coaxial cable to the metal
part of the top substrate. This cable has at the bottom a EZ34 SMA connector for the feeding process,
the cable and connector properties are shown in appendix B. The result after all the process is shown in
Figure 4.11.
(a) (b)
(c)
Figure 4.11: The prototype antenna with the coaxial cable ready to test.(a) Antenna prototype from the
front point of view. (b) Antenna prototype from the side point of view- special notice to the meander and
shorting plate. (c) The metalized part, in the top substrate.
33
4.2.2 Antenna assembled with a 3D PLA printed box
It is interesting to test the antenna in a box, in an almost closed environment. Usually, the antenna’s
radiation tends to be disturbed when close to other electronic elements or when closed in a box. For
example, in a smartphone, the two possibilities happen at the same time. To better understand the
antenna behavior in an closed environment, as described before a 3-D-sized printer box was printed.
As if this box were a flip case cover of a smartphone as an example. The 3D sized box was designed
TM
in CST , and exported to a .stl file, to be printed in a 3-D printer. Figures 4.12a and 4.12b shows
representations of these .stl files. The result printed 3-D-sized box is shown in Figure 4.13. The material
used for the 3D printer was PLA- polylactic acid in color blue. In table 4.2 it is shown the PLA properties
considering [72].
(a) (b)
Figure 4.12: The 3D box model - .stl file. (a)The 3D sized box closed .stl file. (b)The 3D sized box
without the top part.stl file.
The simulation work shows what was expected. With open box, the simulation results practically
don’t change as we can notice in Figure 4.14a, but when the box is closed it is possible to notice the
deviation from the free space simulation, as shown in Figure 4.14b. Figure 4.15 presents the simulation
models used in both experiments. So, comparing the results between Figure 4.14a and Figure 4.14b, it
is possible to notice the increase of the S11 when the antenna is enclosed by the 3D printed box. This
can be due to the PLA electrical properties and temperature sensitivity.
(a) (b)
Figure 4.13: The 3D box model printed with blue PLA. (a) The 3D sized printed box opened. (b) The 3D
sized printed box semi-opened.
34
Table 4.2: Electrical properties of PLA
Polymer Dielectric dissipation factor tan Permittivity Resistivity

PLA 0.01 3.1 4.3 × 101 7
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.14: Antenna inside the 3D box model - S11 results. (a) S11 of the antenna inside of the open
box. (b) S11 of the antenna inside of the closed box.
(a)
(b)
TM
Figure 4.15: Antenna inside the 3D box model (a) Antenna inside the closed box - CST simulation.(b)
Antenna inside the open box - CST TM simulation.
35
4.3 Experimental results
After accomplishing the final antenna design, and, once the prototype is made, it is possible now to
test it in laboratory environment. The IST university radio-frequency laboratory has a set of professional
tools, that made possible to feed the prototype antenna and measure the loss coefficient S11 in free
space environment. In this section is presented the antenna behavior, tested in the IST RF laboratory,
that compares the S11 reflection coefficient between the experimental and simulation results. Since it
was assembled a 3D-printed box, the antenna prototype is also tested inside the box, either with the lid
closed or with the lid open.
The measurement process was done with the Vector Network Analyser (VNA) E5071C, of Agilent
Technologies, Figure 4.16. The S11 coefficient is measured after one VNA port is calibrated to the
used coaxial cable. This calibration process is essential to have correct S-parameter measurements,
because it helps to mitigate the loss effects produced by the coaxial cable. When not calibrated, cables
connected externally can create a different frequency response, and different directivity values, which
are imperfections that limit the s-parameters measurement.
Studying experimentally the antenna prototype radiation patterns is very technical demanding. The
assembly of the antenna’s characterization is quite challenging, and time consuming when antenna
dimensions are very small, as is in this dissertation case. Thus, radiation patterns were not analyzed
TM
experimentally, but they were simulated and studied in CST software.
Figure 4.16: S11 measurement with the VNA E5071.
As already referred, three tests were done, one within free space environment, and the others two
inside the box (lid open or close). Dealing with the chosen frequencies to guideline the antenna design,
a frequency sweep from 0.6 to 7 GHz is conducted to the prototype.
4.3.1 Antenna measurement in free space
The results presented in Figure 4.18 are obtained from the free space measurement in the RF labo-
TM
ratory and the free space simulation inCST software. It is possible to notice the consistency between
36
the experimental resonances in red, and the simulation resonances in green. Only the first resonance
shows some discrepancy between the two results. Although this first resonance is not credible to work
on, there is still some evidence of reflection on that frequency, which shows that with more detailed work
on the structure, it can be possible to bring the S parameter to a lower value. The results are numbered
in Table 4.3, and Figure 4.19 represents the antenna prototype configuration.
Figure 4.17: S11 measurement with the VNA E5071- free space environment.
Figure 4.18: S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results for free space environ-
ment.
Table 4.3: S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results for free space environ-
ment - corresponding points of the Figure 4.18
Type Points [GHz, dB]

Experimental 1.46, -3.64 2.32, -23.1 3.835, -30.5 4.875, -23.3 5.815, -31.525
Simulation 1.52, -10.1 2.468, -26.4 4.004,-20.2 5.048, -17 5.87, -34,1
4.3.2 Antenna measurement within an open box
The results presented in Figure 4.20 are obtained from the antenna prototype, inside the 3D-printed
TM
box configuration, measured in the RF laboratory and the simulation in CST software.
37
As the previous measurement, it is observed that the simulated and experimental curves have the
same S11 behavior, except for a frequency shift towards lower frequencies. Figure 4.19 represents
the antenna prototype inside the 3D-printed box configuration, and the points seen in Figure 4.20 are
numbered in Table 4.4:
Figure 4.19: S11 measurement with the VNA E5071- open box environment.
Figure 4.20: S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results for open box environ-
ment.
Table 4.4: S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results for open box environment
- corresponding points of the Figure 4.20

Experimental 1.46, -3.9 2.33, -24.6 3.84, -35.3 4.875, -27.9 5.815, -26.9
Simulation 1.502, -9.9 2.462, -28.9 3.968, -18 5.036, -19.3 5.816, -23.9
4.3.3 Antenna measurement within a closed box
The results presented in Figure 4.22 are obtained from the antenna prototype inside the 3D-printed
TM
box configuration with the lid closed, measured in the RF laboratory and the simulation in CST soft-
ware. The S11 experimental and simulation behaviour is again similiar, like in the previous measurements
38
(experimental resonances in red and the simulation resonances in green). As in the previous case with
the 3D printed box open, the results shows a shift towards lower frequencies, but with bigger differ-
ences in the S11 minimal values. Figure 4.21 represents the antenna prototype inside the 3D-printed
box configuration with the lid closed, and the points seen in Figure 4.22 are numbered in Table 4.5.
Figure 4.21: S11 measurement with the VNA E5071- open box environment.
Table 4.5: S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results for open box environment
- corresponding points of the Figure 4.18

Experimental 1.44, -4.2 2.285, -32.2 3.8, -21.838 4.835, -23.4 5.785, -15.3
Simulation 1.4842, -9.5 2.4204, -18.6 3.926, -9.6 5, -15.516 5.792, -9.636
4.3.4 Discussion of factors that influence the measurements
The obtained results show small deviations between the simulated and experimental work environ-
ment. The plots presented in previous sections, Figures 4.18, 4.20 , and 4.22, shows resonance shifts
towards lower frequencies. This can be explained by many factors, among wich are manufacturing
errors, environment influence or even design details. Manufacturing errors are the most crucial ones,
because in small multiband antenna, the precision required in practice is very high. Although the uni-
versity laboratory has high-end manufacturing tools, and professionals, the designed antenna structure
has some sub-millimeter details, like soldering conductors and metals, that were difficult to achieve. For
instance, the shorting plate, very important to a PIFA antenna structure, is compromised, as it is possible
to verify in Figure 4.23. This shorting plate was supposed to be completely attached to the substrates,
shorting them, and being perpendicular to the metallized parts.
Another factor attached to the shorting plate, is the material used. In simulations, for the shorting
plate, it is used the same material as the antenna metalized part, which is copper, but in practice, instead
of copper, it was used the one material that existed in the laboratory, that would be placed more easily
in the circuit, gold-plated sheet. This soldering difficulty, have also influenced the positioning of the inner
conductor of the coaxial cable, that goes from the base substrate to the top substrate.
The substrate Rogers RO3035TM itself, is a flexible material, and so, when working with it for a
39
Figure 4.22: S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results for closed box environ-
ment.
Figure 4.23: S11 comparison between experimental results and simulated results.
short/medium time period it starts to bend a little. Therefore, the two substrates plates were not 100%
parallel, which compromises the height between substrates. These are all intricate details that, by
themselves, do not causes substantial influence, but together can be the frequency shifts explanation.
Other designing factors can be the quantity of meshing cells used in simulation process. When using
more meshing cells, especially in the meander and in the coaxial cable, it is obtained more accurate
results, but it also escalates the simulation time.
Figure 4.24 shows the results for the antenna inside the closed box, with different mesh cells quantity,
in 4.24a it was used 7,637,088 mesh cells, and in 4.24b it was used 488,376 mesh cells. There is no
big difference in the results, but still, it can influence the accuracy to the final experimental results.
40
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.24: Simulation on free space environment, the designed antenna is inside the box with the lid
closed. (a) simulation made with mesh cells. (b) simulation made with mesh cells.
41
42
Chapter 5
Conclusions and future work
The main objective of this dissertation is to provide a multiband compact antenna for mobile termi-
nals, capable of operating in ISM 2.45 GHz, 5.8 GHz and GPS L1 bands. Two antenna models have
been studied in this dissertation, and one of them was built and tested in laboratory environment. All opti-
mization, simulation, and measurement processes have been presented. This dissertation is composed
of three main parts. In Chapter 2 and 3, an overview of frequency applications for mobile terminals is
made. An overview of the design methods to achieve small and multiband antenna’s structures is made
as well. The antenna design, the simulation process and the experimental results have been presented
in Chapter 4. The meander design, the parameters definition and the casing effect are also included in
this chapter. The next section presents the main results and conclusions of this dissertation work.
5.1 Results and conclusions
The results in this dissertation are the two proposed designed small multiband antennas alongside
with a prototype construction with four workable resonances, and the involved antenna design knowl-
edge. Both designs are based on slotted PIFA antennas with a meander structure. The first proposed
antenna was not assembled in laboratory due the existing difficulties in building the antenna. In the
final design, a second substrate was added to the antenna structure altering it in a more robust antenna
construction, since the metalized part is better stabilized. The antenna prototype has two substrates
Rogers RO3035TM of small dimensions, which one of the substrates with a 40 × 40 mm2 area, and the
other a with a 20 × 27.5 mm2 area and each substrate has a metalized copper part. One substrate is
dedicated to the ground plane (base substrate), and the other one (top substrate) to support the top
slotted patch and meander. The two existing slots drives the current for the resonances on the higher
bands, and the meander part that made the antenna resonance in the L band. The design of antenna
slots and meander turn out to be very exacting, any change that might occurred in these parts, altered
the final result. Therefore, the interest of this antenna for study continuity. The obtained resonances in
the free space experimental tests, that meets the criterium of S11 ≤ −10 dB are 2.32GHz, 3.84 GHz,
4.87GHz, and 5.82GHz. The same number of resonance, as in simulated results, has been observed
43
with exception of the 1.5 GHz resonance that doesn’t fulfill the matching criterium of S11 ≤ −10 dB. Final
antenna results presented a resonance shift consider the foreseen results in simulations. This can be
associated to the deviations present in the built prototype, that occurred during the antenna assembling.
Any lack of precision or minor mistakes can and will change the behavior of the antenna, and cause the
resonance shifts observed, as described in chapter 4. For example, as the distance between the two
substrates changed, the designed meander also had to be resized, which led to simulation results that
slightly deviates from the first proposed antenna structure. Experimental results were compared with the
simulated ones, and a reasonable agreement was achieved. Despite the deviations seen, this antenna
is very promising, and with some assemble adjustment, or even measurements simulation manipulation,
can reach the predicted values. This antenna prototype resonances are workable on the 5.8 GHz ISM
band, on the S band and on the C band, and for these bands are expected applications within wireless
network, WiMAX, Bluetooth and other satellite communications applications.
TM
All the simulation work was made with the CST software, which is a powerful tool to antenna
designs, since with this software is possible to assess the antenna performance including the surface
current density, the reflection coefficient and the radiating patterns. Working with this software was a
big advantage to the antenna structure design because it allowed to see different results obtained with
different properties, and structures dimensions. Examples of modifications done, were the substrate
occupied area and volume, the height between substrates, the distance between slots, the mesh cells
quantity, the meander total length, and others.
In conclusion, the design of a slotted antenna is very subtle and the laboratory work is very careful,
when working with small antennas. This revealed the importance and meticulousness of antenna design
and multiband strategies. Special attention is needed to all dimensions and parameters variations,
because small variations may cause frequency shifts of the desired resonances.
5.2 Future Work
This dissertation antenna structure have great potential to be explored and studied. Recommenda-
tions and suggestions for future work and future research, are made below:
• with the obtained resonances belonging to the S-Band and C-Band, there is a possibility of explor-
ing future applications for the developed antenna;
• it is recommended to test distinct types of substrates, and to assess the influence of the substrate;
• to modify the first proposed model in a way that allows practical assembly in terms of used mate-
rials or structure dimension;
• to do an optimization of the meandering part as well as its location in the antenna structure;
• to study of the structure deformations influence in the antenna performance;
• to study and test alternative ways of fedding the structure.
44
• to test the antenna prototype for ISM 5.8 GHz wireless applications.
• to conduct a study of the interaction with the user handheld antenna gripping, in a case.
The proposed design for multiband antenna in this dissertation can be subject to a continuous study.
There’s always room for further investigation and improvement of the proposed antenna performance.
The main goal is to have the fewer number antennas possible in a mobile terminal, and for that, small
and multiband antennas are mandatory.
45
46
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52
Appendix A
GPS Segments
A brief description of GPS segments is presented in this appendix. Figure A.1 show the three seg-
ments schematic.
Figure A.1: Segments of a GPS system.
Space segment has in total 32 satellites and 24 of these are operational satellites. Each satellite is in
orbit 20,200 km above the earth. For the user to be able to localize himself a minimum of four satellites
is required [19]. The first launch of a satellite was at February 1978 [77].
The control segment is responsible for monitoring all up-link and down-link information between the
control segment and the other segments. The control segment has monitor stations that supervise
all GPS satellites in order to collect information from the satellite broadcast and to verify that they are
operating correctly [73] [19].
The user segment is all about the devices that work as receivers. Includes all military and civilian
users. The device, handheld or not, includes GPS antenna and processors that permit the user to
receive the GPS satellite broadcast signals. These signals can be used to determine the user position
anywhere in the world. GPS receivers use usually a Trilateration and ranging algorithms [75]. This
concept requires at least four satellites to calculate a precise location. The simultaneous ranging from
the four satellites allows receiver device to collect measurements in real-time and compute the position
(latitude, longitude, and altitude) and time information [76].
A.1
A.2
Appendix B
Coaxial Cable EZ-34
The presented datasheet below is extracted from the EZ corporation website [79].
B.3
05/10/2017 EZ-34 – EZ Form Cable
Co pp er Ja ck et ed 5 0 O hm Ca b le s
EZ-34
Copper jacketed semi-rigid cables manufactured
by EZ Form o er 100% shielding and are easily formed into
custom shapes using standard tooling. A wide variety of standard
connectors are available for these cables.
To impede oxidation, we recommend keeping this product in its
original packaging and storing it in a dry temperature controlled
environment until consumed.
EZ-34 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS**

DIMENSIONS UNITS
REV A
Nominal Impedance Ohms 50.0 ±1.0
In 0.034 Velocity of Propagation - 69.5%%
Outer Conductor Diameter
mm 0.86 Shielding Effectiveness db >165
Center Conductor In 0.008 VRMS @ 60
Diameter Voltage Withstanding 7500
mm 0.2 Hz
In 0.0260 Continuous Working
Dielectric Diameter VRMS MAX 3000
mm 0.6600 Voltage
Maximum Operating
GHz 153
Frequency
MATERIALS
0.5 GHz 32.3
Outer Conductor Copper
1.0 GHz 46.0
Outer Conductor Plating none
5.0 GHz 106.0
Dielectric PTFE
10.0 GHz 153.8
Center Conductor SPCW
Attenuation 18.0 GHz 211.5
RoHS Compliant YES (db / 100 Ft Typical) 26.5 GHz 262.7
40.0 GHz 331.7
MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS 50.0 GHz 377.2
-55 to 65.0 GHz 439.7
Temp Range °C °C
+100°C 90.0 GHz 533.6
Inside Bend Radius In 0.05 0.5 GHz 14
(Minimum) mm .050 (1.27) 1.0 GHz 10
lbs / 100ft 0.26 5.0 GHz N/A
Weight
kg / 100m 0.39 10.0 GHz 3
Power (Watts Cw 18.0 GHz 2
@ 20 °C, Maximum) 26.5 GHz N/A
40.0 GHz N/A
50.0 GHz N/A
65.0 GHz N/A
90.0 GHz N/A
** Applicable at ambient temperature. Contact factory for performance over temperature range.
Tel: (203) 785-8215 Fax: (203) 785-0466 | 285 Welton Street Hamden, CT 06517
Website: www.ezform.com © Copyright 2017 Ezform Cable Corporation
http://www.ezform.com/product/ez-34-2/?ezvft=yes&ezvsd=ptfe&ezvtd=copper2&ezcs=semi-rigid 1/1
Appendix C
ISM Regions and Frequencies
The ISM bands following the ITU RR No. 1.19 ”radiocommunication service: A service as defined
in this section involving the transmission, emission and/or reception of radio waves for specific telecom-
munication purposes.” are represented in table C.1. Besides, ISM bands are, mostly, frequency bands
accessible without license commissions, this condition may differ according to different regions and per-
missions [22]. According to with ITU the world is divided into three regions as shown in Figure C.1 and
described below [23]:
Figure C.1: ITU Regionally harmonized bands. Resolution 646(WRC-03) ”Public protection and disaster
relief” recommends use of regionally harmonized bands
• Region 1 comprises Europe, Africa, the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, and the Middle East west
of the Persian Gulf, including Iraq.
• Region 2 covers the Americas including Greenland, and some of the eastern Pacific Islands.
• Region 3 contains most of non-FSU Asia east of and including Iran, and most of Oceania.
Each region has a specific set of frequency allocations in addition to the global ones:
C.5
• Region 1: 380-470 MHz as the frequency range within which the band 380-385/390-395 MHz is a
preferred core harmonized band for permanent public protection activities within certain countries
of Region 1;
• Region 2: 746-806 MHz, 806-869 MHz, 4 940-4 990 MHz;
• Region 3: 406.1-430 MHz, 440-470 MHz, 806-824/851-869 MHz, 4 940-4 990 MHz and 5 850-5
925 MHz
Table C.1: ISM bands: RR. *Regions are represented in Figure C.1
Frequency Range Center Frequency

6 765 kHz 6 795 kHz 6780 kHz
13 553 kHz 13 567 kHz 13 560 kHz
26957 kHz 27283 kHz 27120 kHz
40.66 MHz 40.70 MHz 40.68 MHz
433.05 MHz 434.79 MHz 433.92 MHz *Region 1
902 MHz 928 MHz 915 MHz *Region 2
2 400 MHz 2 500 MHz 2 450 MHz
5 725 MHz 5 875 MHz 5 800 MHz
24 GHz 24.25 GHz 24.125 GHz
61 GHz 61.5 GHz 61.25 GHz
122 GHz 123 GHz 122.5 GHz
244 GHz 246 GHz 245 GHz
ISM band antennas can be applied to many applications like RFID, health monitoring, for smart
devices in car-home-phones industries, NFC, and others. For thesis purpose, the goal is achieving an
antenna suitable for Bluetooth and WiFi applications and for that, the focus is on the 2.4 GHz and 5.8
GHz ISM bands. A more detailed approach about these specific bands is presented in the next section.
C.6
Appendix D
Substrate Rogers RO3035
The substrate ROGERS RO3035 is laminates of ceramic - fi lled PTFE based circuit material with
mechanical properties. Fabricated by Rogers corporation, it is good for multilayer boards constructions,
typically used in microstrip patch antennas and others applications.
The most important details about the substrate is presented below and is extracted from the datasheet
document available on the Rogers corporation website [80].
D.1 RO3035 Datasheet
D.7
Data Sheet
Typical Value(1)
Property Direction Unit Condition Test Method
RO3003 RO3035 RO3006 RO3010
IPC-TM-650
Dielectric Constant, r 3.00 ± 2.5.5.5
3.50 ± 0.05 6.15 ± 0.15 10.2 ± 0.30 Z - 10 GHz 23°C
Process 0.04 Clamped
Stripline
Differential
Dielectric Constant,r
(2)
8 GHz - 40
3.00 3.60 6.50 11.20 Z - Phase Length
Design GHz
Method
IPC-TM-650
Dissipation Factor, tan  0.0010 0.0015 0.0020 0.0022 Z - 10 GHz 23°C
2.5.5.5
10 GHz IPC-TM-650
Thermal Coefficient of r -3 -45 -262 -395 Z ppm/°C
-50 to 150°C 2.5.5.5
-0.06 -0.11 -0.27 -0.35 X IPC TM-650
Dimensional Stability mm/m COND A
0.07 0.11 -0.15 -0.31 Y 2.2.4
Volume Resistivity 107 107 105 105 M•cm COND A IPC 2.5.17.1
Surface Resistivity 107 107 105 105 M COND A IPC 2.5.17.1
930 1025 1498 1902 X
Tensile Modulus MPa 23°C ASTM D638
823 1006 1293 1934 Y
IPC-TM-650
Moisture Absorption 0.04 0.04 0.02 0.05 - % D48/50
2.6.2.1
Specific Heat 0.9 0.86 0.8 J/g/K Calculated
Thermal Conductivity 0.50 0.50 0.79 0.95 - W/m/K 50°C ASTM D5470
17 17 17 13 X
Coefficient of Thermal ASTM
16 17 17 11 Y ppm/°C -55 to 288°C
Expansion D3386-94
25 24 24 16 Z
Td 500 500 500 500 °C TGA ASTM D3850
gm/
Density 2.1 2.1 2.6 2.8 23°C ASTM D792
cm3
1 oz. EDC
Copper Peel Strength 12.7 10.2 7.1 9.4 lb/in After Solder IPC-TM-2.4.8
Float
Flammability V-0 V-0 V-0 V-0 UL 94
Lead Free Process

YES YES YES YES
Compatible
NOTES:
(1) Typical values are a representation of an average value for the population of the property. For specification values contact Rogers
Corporation.
(2) The design Dk is an average number from several different tested lots of material and on the most common thickness/s. If more detailed
information is required, please contact Rogers Corporation or refer to Rogers’ technical papers in the Roger Technology Support Hub avail-
able at http://www.rogerscorp.com/acm/technology.
Advanced Connectivity Solutions

100 S. Roosevelt Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85226
Tel: 480-961-1382 Fax: 480-961-4533 www.rogerscorp.com
Appendix E
Antenna Masks
(b)
(a)
Figure E.1: Prototype antenna design masks, done with the QCAD software. These masks represent
the metallic parts of the base substrate and top substrate. (a) Base substrate with ground plane. (b) Top
substrate with slotted metallic part, plus the meander and screws slots.
E.9
E.10
Appendix F
Base substrate dimension

modification effect
The figure F.1 show that modifying the base substrate dimension can influence the resonances and
S11 values.
Figure F.1: Effect of changing the size of the base substrate in S11 coefficient of the meandered PIFA
with two substrates.
F.11
F.12
Appendix G
Simulated Radiating Patterns
(a) (b)
(c)
Figure G.1: Results of efficiency and radiation patterns for the antenna directivity. (a) Farfield directivity
of 1.3 with radiation efficiency value of 0.3931, total efficiency of 0.3339. (b) Farfield directivity of 2.043
with radiation efficiency value of 0.9942, total efficiency of 0.9818. (c) Farfield directivity of 3.403 with
radiation efficiency value of 0.9856, total efficiency of 0.6571.
G.13
G.14

Project of Antennas For GPS, Ism 2.4 and 5.8 GHZ Mobile Terminals

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Project of antennas for GPS, ISM 2.4 and 5.

Estela do Céu Boto Cameira Ferreira

Thesis to obtain the Master of Science Degree in

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Supervisor: Prof. António Manuel Restani Graça Alves Moreira

2 Frequency bands and applications 5

3 Multiband Antennas for GPS and ISM bands 13

4 Multiband antenna design and test 26

5 Conclusions and future work 43

A GPS Segments A.1

B Coaxial Cable EZ-34 B.3

C ISM Regions and Frequencies C.5

D Substrate Rogers RO3035 D.7

E Antenna Masks E.9

F Base substrate dimension modification effect F.11

G Simulated Radiating Patterns G.13

2.1 Some specifications comparing 2.45 GHz with 5.8 GHz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4.1 Antenna solutions with similarities with the proposed antenna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

1.1 Evolution of telecommunications devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2.1 Segments of a GPS system. Source: [14]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3.2 Representation of ILA structure [33]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

3.3 Representation of IFA structure [33]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

3.7 Antennas in a mobile phone: 1. GSM/WCDMA antenna, 2. Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combined

A.1 Segments of a GPS system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A.1

ARNS Aeronautical Radio Navigation Service

1.2 Problem statement

Frequency bands and applications

2.1 Frequency bands of interest

Figure 2.1: Segments of a GPS system. Source: [14].

2.3 ISM bands

ISM 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz

ISM Band 2.45GHz 5.8GHz

Multiband Antennas for GPS and ISM

3.1 Parameters Study

Mean effective gain (MEG)

Total radiated power (TRP)

Total isotropic sensitivity (TIS)

Voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR)

3.2 Multiband antenna structures

Types of antenna structures

Figure 3.2: Representation of ILA structure [33].

Figure 3.3: Representation of IFA structure [33].

Miniaturization and multiband strategies

GPS antennas for mobile terminals

Electromagnetic computation method

3.4 Antenna Performance effects

3.4.1 Casing effects

3.4.2 Body proximity effect

Specific absorption rate

Multiband antenna design and test

4.1 Antenna Design

Referred Antenna Occupied Area [mm2 ] Cover Band

calculate a minimum length, lm accordingly with a a quarter of a wavelength, equation 4.3.

Figure 4.7: S11 of the meandered PIFA in 4.6 .

4.1.2 Proposed antenna design

Figure 4.10: S11 of the meandered PIFA with two substrates.

4.2 Prototype construction

4.2.1 Antenna assembling

Polymer Dielectric dissipation factor tan Permittivity Resistivity

Figure 4.16: S11 measurement with the VNA E5071.

4.3.1 Antenna measurement in free space

Type Points [GHz, dB]

4.3.2 Antenna measurement within an open box