Circularly Polarized MSA and MSA Arrays

Week 8 Assignment
(Each question carries 2 marks)
Common data for Questions 1 to 3: A dual feed circularly polarized
square MSA is to be designed at 2.4 GHz on a substrate having εr =
2.55 and h = 0.32 cm as shown in Fig. 1.

Solution: The square patch has to resonate at 1.8 GHz. First, initial
value of the width can be taken as,
Fig. 1
𝑐 30
𝑊= = = 4.69 𝑐𝑚
(𝜀 + 1) (2.55 + 1)
2𝑓0 � 𝑟 2 2 ∗ 2.4 ∗ � 2
Using this value of width and given substrate height of 0.32 cm, calculating the effective
dielectric constant,
(𝜀𝑟 + 1) (𝜀𝑟 − 1) 10ℎ −1/2
𝜀𝑒 = + �1 + � = 2.37
2 2 𝑊

1. The approximate length of the square patch should be:

a. 1.43 cm
b. 2.54 cm
c. 3.64 cm
d. 4.45 cm
Solution: Using the effective dielectric constant, the effective length can be calculated as,
𝑐 30
𝐿𝑒 = = = 4.06 𝑐𝑚
2𝑓𝑜 �𝜀𝑒 2 ∗ 2.4 ∗ √2.37
The physical length can be calculated as,

𝐿 = 𝐿𝑒 − 2 ∗ �ℎ� � = 4.06 − 2 ∗ �0.32� � = 3.64 𝑐𝑚

�𝜀𝑒 √2.37

2. Approximate feed position (x = y) can be taken as:

a. 0.4 cm
b. 0.7 cm
c. 1.1 cm
d. 1.5 cm
Solution: The feed location should be chosen as
𝐿 𝐿 3.64 3.64
𝑥=� , �=� , � = (0.6 ,0.9)
6 4 6 4
From the given options, 0.7 cm fits the requirement.

3. For right hand circular polarization (RHCP), antenna feed amplitude and phase at x and y
positions should be:
a. 1∠0o , 1∠0o
b. 1.1∠90o , 1∠0o
c. 1∠90o , 1∠0o
d. 1∠0o , 1∠180o
Solution: In order to get RHCP, the E-vector should rotate counter-clockwise in the plane of
the paper (since the direction of wave propagation is out-of-the the plane of the paper). To
have this sense of rotation, the feed along the x-axis should lead the feed along the y-axis by
90°. Additionally, amplitude of both the feeds should be same. Thus, from the given options,
c) is the correct one.

4. Compared to conventional circularly polarized (CP) MSA array, sequentially rotated CP

array provides:
(i) More gain (ii) High axial ratio bandwidth
(iii) Less axial ratio bandwidth (iv) Less gain
a. (i) and (ii)
b. (i) and (iv)
c. (ii) and (iii)
d. (ii) and (iv)
Solution: Compared to conventional circularly polarized (CP) MSA array, sequentially
rotated CP array provides high axial ratio bandwidth and less gain.

Common data for Questions 5 to 7: A single feed nearly square MSA

is designed at 2.4 GHz using a substrate having εr = 3.38 and h = 0.32
cm for right hand circular polarization as shown in Fig. 2. (Hint: For
feed point shown, L1 < L2 for RHCP)
5. Dimension L1 of MSA should be, approximately:
a. 3 cm
b. 4 cm
Fig. 2
c. 5 cm
d. 6 cm
Solution: The nearly square patch has to resonate at 2.4 GHz. First, initial value of the width
can be taken as,

𝑐 30
𝑊= = = 4.22 𝑐𝑚
(𝜀 + 1) (3.38 + 1)
2𝑓0 � 𝑟 2 2 ∗ 2.4 ∗ � 2
Using this value of width and given substrate height of 0.32 cm, calculating the effective
dielectric constant,
 (𝜀𝑟 + 1) (𝜀𝑟 − 1) 10ℎ −1/2
𝜀𝑒 = + �1 + � = 3.08
2 2 𝑊
Using the effective dielectric constant, the effective length can be calculated as,
𝑐 30
𝐿𝑒 = = = 3.56 𝑐𝑚
2𝑓𝑜 �𝜀𝑒 2 ∗ 2.4 ∗ √3.08
The physical length can be calculated as,

𝐿 = 𝐿𝑒 − 2 ∗ �ℎ� � = 3.56 − 2 ∗ �0.32� � = 3.19 𝑐𝑚 ≈ 3 𝑐𝑚

�𝜀𝑒 √3.08

6. The dimension L2 of MSA should be:

a. 6.2 cm
b. 5.7 cm
c. 4.2 cm
d. 3.2 cm
Solution: For RHCP, L1 < L2. This discards last two options. If L2 is taken as 4.2 cm, the
corresponding resonance frequency will be lower than the required value of 2.4 GHz. Hence,
3.2 cm is the correct answer.

7. Gain of circularly polarized MSA will be:

a. 3-5 dBi
b. 5-7 dBi
c. 7-9 dBi
d. 9-11 dBi
Solution: Gain of circularly polarized MSA is in the range 5-7 dBi.

8. Compared to corporate feed array, series-fed array has:

a. Higher bandwidth
b. Higher losses
c. Equal power fed to all elements
d. Lower bandwidth
Solution: In series-fed microstrip arrays, the patches are excited with slightly different phases
because of the finite lengths of the connecting lines and the fact that only one of the patches
is fed. As the frequency of operation increases, this phase difference among the excitations
signals of the patches increase, which results in radiation pattern impairment. Hence, series-
fed patches have lower bandwidth.

9. A square MSA is designed at 5.8 GHz on RT Duroid 5870 substrate having εr = 2.33, h =
1.6 mm, and tanδ = 0.0012. Side length of the square patch is 1.6 cm. An 11-elements
central fed series array is designed with inter-element spacing of 0.65λo as shown in Fig.
3. Total array antenna length will be:
a. 30 cm
b. 32 cm Fig. 3
 c. 35 cm (Ans)
d. 37 cm
Solution: f= 5.8 GHz, εr = 2.33, h = 1.6 mm, and tanδ = 0.0012.
d= 0.65λo , n=11
30
Total array antenna length = (n-1)d+ side length= 10 × 0.65 × 5.8 + 1.6= 35.2 ≈ 35 cm

10. A square MSA has a gain of 6 dBi at 2.45 GHz. A 2 × 2 corporate fed array with center to
center spacing of 0.5λ0 is designed using this square MSA. Approximate gain of this
array will be: (assume antenna efficiency is 90%)
a. 10.5 dBi
b. 11.4 dBi
c. 12.6 dBi
d. 14.7 dBi
Solution: The gain of the MSA array can be found as,
MSA Array Gain (dBi) = Gain of Single MSA (dBi) + Gain due to array aperture (dBi)
Now,
Gain of the 2 × 2 array = η × Directivity of the 2 × 2 array
= η × π × Dx × Dy × cos (0°) (Broadside radiation)
= η × π × Dx2
(Square patch)
= η × π × (2× Lλ) 2

Now,
Lλ = (2-1) × dλ = 0.5

Assuming η = 0.9,
Gain of the 2 × 2 array = η × π × (2× Lλ)2 = 0.9 × π × (2× 0.5)2 = 2.83 ≈ 4.51 dBi
Therefore,
The overall gain of the MSA array = 6 + 4.52 = 10.5 dBi