IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL.
16, 2017
Easily Optimizable Dual-Band Frequency-Selective
Surface Design
Bora Döken and Mesut Kartal, Member, IEEE
Abstract—Mutual interference between indoor adjacent wire-
less networks is becoming an important issue as it reduces the
communication speed significantly. Isolating the wireless networks
by using frequency-selective surfaces (FSSs) can be an efficient
solution for such interference problems. As a solution proposal,
a new periodic element geometry design, which stops incoming
2.4 and 5.8 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical radio (ISM)
signals, is presented in this work. Mutual effect between each res-
onator (2.4 and 5.8 GHz) mostly leads to the optimization stage’s
being inadequate or time consuming at multiband FSS designs.
Therefore, a new simple design technique is presented to be able
to optimize each resonance frequency independent from the other.
Besides, as an important feature, this technique also allows adjust-
ing the frequency interval between the stopbands. Analysis of the
proposed surfaces is executed with Ansoft HFSS v.15 software.
Index Terms—Frequency-selective surface (FSS), interference,
periodic structures, wireless communication, wireless local area
network (WLAN).
I. INTRODUCTION
HE mutual interference between the adjacent wireless net-
T works reduces communication performances due to the
extensive usage of unlicensed industrial, scientific, and medical
radio (ISM) bands in indoor environment. Secure personal com-
munication within such wireless network environments is also
another important problem. These issues are becoming more
and more important day by day, and is being tried to be solved
by advanced signal processing techniques and antenna designs
[1], [2]. Isolating the coverage areas of the wireless networks
can be a useful solution for interference and security problems
[3]–[10], and can be achieved by converting indoor surfaces into
band-stop frequency-selective surfaces (FSSs). The use of FSSs
improves the spectrum efficiency by reusing the channels over a
short distance, as well as increasing security and privacy within
buildings. 10 dB decrease in the cochannel interference enables
the cell size in square law propagation conditions to be reduced
by about 3 times.
Manuscript received May 18, 2017; revised September 13, 2017; accepted
September 15, 2017. Date of publication September 26, 2017; date of current
version November 8, 2017. This work was supported in part by “The Scien-
tific and Technological Research Council of Turkey,” in part by the TUBITAK
under Project 115E225, and in part by the Istanbul Technical University BAP
Foundation under Project 37010. (Corresponding author: Bora Döken.)
The authors are with the Department of Electronics and Communications
Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey (e-mail:
dokenb@itu.edu.tr; kartalme@ itu.edu.tr).
Color versions of one or more of the figures in this letter are available online
at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/LAWP.2017.2756118
1536-1225 © 2017 IEEE. Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission.
See http://www.ieee.org/publications standards/publications/rights/index.html for more information.
2979
An FSS characteristic is achieved by using periodic con-
ducting patch arrays, which behave as band-stop filter for in-
coming electromagnetic waves [11], [12]. As a solution, a new
FSS geometry design, which stops extensively used 2.4 and
5.8 GHz ISM bands while allowing the others, is proposed in
this work. Multiband FSS behavior is achieved by using multi-
ple resonators either in a nested, hybrid, or a layered structure
[13]–[16]. Mutual interference between each resonator is also
dependent to wave incidence angle and may lead to the opti-
mization stage’s being inadequate or time consuming. Nested
loop structures have an important advantage of having constant
distances between nested geometries. Therefore, the mutual in-
terference is a function of constant distances between nested
geometries; and can be controlled more effectively.
Although there are too many works on multiband FSS de-
signs in the literature, almost none of them propose a technique
to improve the success of the optimization stage. Therefore, the
contribution of this work is proposing a new multistop-band
FSS design technique, which almost allows us optimizing one
stop-band resonance without affecting the others. Besides, the
frequency interval between the stop-bands can easily be ad-
justed by changing the value of one of the parameters. Proposed
technique is applied on a dual-band FSS design. Second contri-
bution of this letter is a novel dual-band FSS geometry, which
stops incoming 2.4 and 5.8 GHz ISM signals.
Equivalent circuit (EC) models of FSS structures are effi-
ciently used at the design and optimization stages to obtain
the information on how each parameter of the periodic element
works [17]. The analysis of the proposed surfaces is executed
with Ansoft HFSS v.15 software.
II. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENT
The aim of this work is to design a new periodic element ge-
ometry, which is capable of stopping incoming 2.4 and 5.8 GHz
ISM signals. Band-stop frequency behavior is achieved by us-
ing periodic conducting patch structures. In accordance with the
purpose of the design, “Circular Loop” element geometry is se-
lected as the initial periodic element geometry (FSS geometry)
in order to have polarization insensitivity and keep the structure
simple [11]. Resonant wavelength of this geometry is almost
equal to its circumference length [11]. Initial parameter values
of this geometry are determined by using this information in
order to stop 2.45 GHz ISM band in the first design stage. Sub-
sequently, another “Circular Loop” element geometry is nested
as an inner geometry in order to achieve the second stop-band
2980 IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL. 16, 2017

Fig. 1. EC model of FSS structure.

Fig. 3. Optimizing 5.8 GHz resonance by using recess parameter (x1) of inner
geometry.

Fig. 2. S 2 1 frequency curves for the first three design stages of the FSS
geometry, TE polarization (Θ = 30°).

Fig. 4. Simulation results for different recess parameter values (x1) of inner
(5.8 GHz) frequency behavior (see Fig. 1). Initial parameter val- geometry (TE polarization, Θ = 30°).
ues of the inner “Circular Loop” geometry are also determined
as the previous outer geometry. At this stage, an EC model is
used to explain frequency response of this unit cell geometry
[18]. Nested unit cell geometry and its EC model are shown in
Fig. 1.
Each circular loop of the nested structure can be modeled by a
series of LC circuits and the coupling effect between them is rep-
resented by mutual inductance (M). The equivalent impedance
and the resonance frequencies of the FSS are derived from the
given EC model as
  
1 − w2 L1 C1 1 − w2 L2 C2
Z=
jw (C1 + C2 − w2 C1 C2 (L1 + L2 )) Fig. 5. Optimizing the resonant frequency interval by using recess parameter
(x2) of inner geometry.
L1 = L1 + M, L2 = L2 + M
1 1 first resonance shifted up to the 2.55 GHz frequency due to
f2450 M Hz =   f5800 M Hz =   . (1) the lowered mutual inductance value (M) and second resonance
2π L1 C1 2π L2 C2
occurred at 6.2 GHz frequency due to decreased equivalent in-
It is easy to find that Z has one real pole and two real ze- ductance value (L2 ).
ros. When the impedance (Z) of the FSS approaches to zero, Subsequently, recesses (x1) are created on the inner loop
the surface acts as a reflector, and reflects the incoming wave, geometry (see Fig. 3) in order to be able to optimize second
whereas this wave is able to be transmitted through it when the resonance frequency without affecting the first resonance. Pro-
impedance goes to infinity. posed recessing methodology enables the equivalent inductance
Simulations of the nested structure are executed with Ansoft value (L1 ∝ d/(w − x1)) to be adjusted without affecting the
HFSS v.15 software. Achieved simulation result (see Fig. 2: equivalent capacitance (C) value as shown in Fig. 3. Parametric
Stage 2) shows that first resonant frequency is shifted down from analysis feature of the HFSS software is utilized in order to opti-
2.5 to 2.3 GHz, while second resonance occurred at 3.96 GHz. mize the second resonance frequency by changing the recessing
It is obvious from (1) that mutual inductance between the nested parameter (x1) value. Simulations’ results in Fig. 4 prove that
loop geometries shifts the resonant frequencies down. recessing technique allows us optimizing the second resonance
At the next stage, inner geometry is divided into four pieces frequency without affecting the first resonance.
(see Fig. 2: Stage 3) in order to shift up the second resonant fre- Recesses are also created on the inner side of the outer circular
quency according to the (L2 ∝ lenght/(length/width)) equa- loop in order to be able to adjust the frequency interval between
tion and (1). Simulation results (see Fig. 2: Stage 3) show that stop-bands (see Fig. 5). If recession level is increased (x2), it
DÖKEN AND KARTAL: EASILY OPTIMIZABLE DUAL-BAND FREQUENCY-SELECTIVE SURFACE DESIGN 2981

Fig. 6. Simulation results for different recess parameter values (x2) of outer Fig. 8. S 2 1 frequency curves for the proposed FSS geometry, TE polarization
geometry (TE polarization, Θ = 30°). (Θ = 0°, Θ = 30°, Θ = 60°).

Fig. 7. FSS geometry. (a) Trimetric view. (b) Top view.

TABLE I Fig. 9. S 2 1 frequency curves for the proposed FSS geometry, TM polarization
PARAMETER VALUES OF FSS [P = PARAMETER (mm)] (Θ = 0°, Θ = 30°, Θ = 60°).

P value P value P value P value

TABLE II
w1 1.3 r2 9.3 x2 0.5 h 1.6 PERCENTAGE OF OBTAINED BANDWIDTHS OF FSS [Θ = INCIDENCE ANGLE
w2 1.7 r3 12.8 e 1.6 g 0.65 (DEGREES), BW = BANDWIDTH (S 2 1 < −20 dB, S 2 1 < −10 dB)]
p 29.3 r4 14 Θ1 53.38°
r1 10 x1 0.7 Θ2 36.62°
P Θ BW <−20 dB BW <−20 dB BW <−10 dB BW <−10 dB
2400 MHz 5800 MHz 2400 MHz 5800 MHz

TE 0 %100 %31 %100 %100

is obvious that the equivalent inductance value (L1 ∝ d/(w − TE 30 %100 %74 %100 %100
x2)) increases and mutual inductance value (M  h2) decreases. TE 45 %100 %52 %100 %100
TE 60 %100 %23 %100 %100
First and second resonant frequencies are shifted to lower and TM 0 %100 %31 %100 %100
higher frequencies as shown in Fig. 6. TM 30 %100 %0 %100 %100
Resonant wavelength of “Circular Loop” geometry is almost TM 45 %100 %0 %100 %100
TM 60 %0 %0 %100 %83
equal to its circumference length. Therefore, by using this infor-
mation, the initial parameter values are defined. Subsequently,
according to the preliminary simulation results, parametric anal-
ysis feature of HFSS software is utilized in predefined interval respectively. Achieved results show that 20 and 15 dB
in order to find the optimum value of parameters for resonant attenuations are obtained in 2.45 and 5.8 GHz frequency bands,
frequencies. Optimization stage is implemented by using the respectively, for the oblique incidence angle range from normal
information, which is obtained by using the EC model. Unit to 60°. It is also observed that higher harmonics of outer geome-
cell parameter values of the final FSS structure (see Fig. 7) are try (2.4 GHz resonator) lead ripples (see Fig. 9) at TM polariza-
shown in Table I. “h” and “g” parameters denote the thickness tion, when both states of the incident angle’s being greater than
of FR4 substrate and the gap between the periodic elements, 30°, and frequency’s being greater than 5 GHz are occurred.
respectively. Achieved bandwidths (%) at the desired frequency bands for
Figs. 8 and 9 show the simulation results obtained at S21 < −20 dB and S21 < −10 dB are shown in Table II.
0°, 30°, and 60° of incidence angles for both transverse- For the laboratory measurements, the prototype was manu-
electric (TE) and transverse-magnetic (TM) polarizations, factured on a 410 mm × 410 mm FR4 sheet, whose dielectric
2982
Fig. 10. Measured S 2 1 frequency curves for TE polarization (Θ = 0°, Θ =
30°, Θ = 60°).
Fig. 11. Measured S2 1 frequency curves for TM polarization (Θ = 0°, Θ =
30°, Θ = 60°).
constant was 4.5. The measurements for the fabricated pro-
totype were performed by Agilent N5230A model network
analyzer and with two Schwarzbeck Mess BBHA 9120D model
horn antennas. A thru calibration was performed to calibrate the
network analyzer within the frequency band of 1.8–6.3 GHz in
the absence of the FSS. The transmitting and receiving antennas
were set at 1.1 m away from the FSS. Both antennas were at the
same height and located on the line-of-sight direction.
As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the measurement results satisfy
at least 20 dB attenuation (except for TM 60°) for the desired
frequency bands; and there is a good compatibility between
measurement and simulation results.
III. CONCLUSION
A novel band-stop FSS geometry is designed for mitigating
interference and wireless local area network security in the 2.4
and 5.8 GHz ISM bands. Proposed geometry has a stable fre-
quency response up to 30° of incidence angles, while achieved
attenuation levels are 20 and 15 dB for 2.4 and 5.8 GHz ISM
bands, respectively. Each resonance frequency of the FSS was
IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL. 16, 2017
able to be optimized in an almost independent way from the
other by using a new design technique. Frequency intervals be-
tween the stop-bands could have also been adjusted by using
this technique. Besides, the obtained thickness of the structure
is only 1.6 mm that also gives the possibility of using this design
as a structural surface material for blocking the ISM signals.
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