A New Omnidirectional CP Patch Antenna

Rugui Yang and Raj Mittra Mike Itoh

Electromagnetic Communication Laboratory Matsushita Electric Works, Lid
University of Illinois 1048, Kadoma-shi
Urbana, IL 61801-2991 Osaka, 571 Japan

Circularly-polarized antennas with near-omnidirectional patterns find important

applications in mobile communication. Conventional microstrip patch antennas
not only exhibit a 10 to 15 dB loss in gain near the horizon but a substantial
deterioration of the CP performance as well. In this paper, we describe a new
design for a patch-array antenna which fulfills both the gain and polarization
specifications. The antenna comprises two nearly square microstrip patches that
are stacked in the vertical direction and are fed in phase. The geometry of the
antenna configuration is depicted in Fig. 1. A two-way power divider is used to
deliver power equally to the two patches.
The antenna pattem can controlled by adjusting the separation distance d between
the two patches. Two different dielectric substrates are used to construct the
antenna, with the top patch utilizing the higher dielectric constant in order to
shorten its dimensions and reduce the blockage it presents to the radiation from
the lower patch. As mentioned before, the two patches are fed in phase so that
their combined field is 6 dB higher than their individual contributions. This, in
tum, serves to improve the pattern characteristics of the antenna system
substantially in the near-horizon direction.

Two ranges of the separation distance d, viz., O c d 4 2 and X l 2 c d d were

investigated. Although the smaller range of separation distance helps reduce the
vertical dimension of the antenna system, it becomes more difficult in this case to
tune the patches at the same resonant frequency because of the enhanced mutual
coupling that increases the interaction between them. On the other hand, when d
is near h/2 or above, the two contributions from the upper and lower patches
interfere destructively along the zenith, and can even produce untoward nulls in
the pattern.

The CP pattem, bandwidth and the impedance characteristics of an experimental

model of the two-patch antenna array system are shown in Figs. 2 through 5. The
pertinent dimensions of the antenna are:
d = 70mm
41 = 10.5
E+Z = 3.6
ti = t2 = 3.12mm
In the experimental model, a NARDA two-way power divider was used to feed
the antenna system. However, the power divider can be integrated in the system if
desired.

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It is evident from the experimental data that the patch array antenna has a
satisfactory omnidirectional pattern in half space, 1% CP bandwidth, and
excellent impedance characteristics. The CP bandwidth can be extended, if
desired, by using a thicker substrate.

Total
Input

.>-way power divider

Fig.1 2 Stackedpatch antenna

f=1.553 GHz

CO-----

------ IEmaxl(d8)
I Em in I (d 8)

-20

-25’
-90
*
i
- I
-45
-7..0
,

45
. , .
90
Azimuth (deg)
Fig.2 CP pattern for f=1.553 GHz

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 Zenith Direction
6 I
I

1.543 1.547 1.551 1.555 1.559 1.563

Frequency (GHz)

Fig.3 CP bandwidth along the zenith direction

START 1.000000000 GHZ

STW 2.000000000 EH=

Fig.4 Impedance characteristics of top patch

in the vicinity of f=1.54GHz

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 START 1.000000000 GHz
STW Z.0I0000000 D H X

Fig.5 Impedance characteristics of lower patch

in the vicinity of f=1.54GHz

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