Circularly polarised back-to-back microstrip antenna

with an omnidirectional pattern

H.lwasaki and N.Chiba

Abstract: A new configuration for a circularly polarised microstrip antenna with an omnidirectional
pattern is proposed. This antenna consists of two rectangular patches with perturbation segments,
which are arranged back-to-back relative to a coplanar waveguide (CPW) on a ground plane. The
characteristics of the proposed antenna were clarified by experiments, and the mechanism to produce
the circular polarisation was proved by using an electromagnetic simulator. The radiation patterns
and input impedances were measured as a parameter of the width of the perturbation segment. Good
circularly polarised radiation patterns with an omnidirectional pattern and input impedance
characteristics were obtained.

1 Introduction impedances were measured as a parameter of the width of

It has been reported that a circularly polarised antenna is
able to suppress unwanted multipath signals compared
with a linearly polarised antenna [I]. Therefore, a circularly
polarised antenna is required for a high-speed wireless
LAN or a wireless access by using high frequencies.
The circularly polarised microstrip antennas are classified
into a single-fed type or a dual-fed type according to the
number of feed points necessaty to excite a circularly polar-
ised wave. The single-fed type has the advantage of not
requiring an external circular polariser such as a 90"
hybrid. Furthermore, a coplanar waveguide (CPW) has
recently been used as a feeder for planar patch antennas,
since it has low radiation-loss characteristics and allows the
realisation of series and shunt connections of MMIC
devices without through holes. Many antennas have thus
been proposed to produce a circularly polarised wave by
using the single-fed type with a CPW [Z,31. These antennas
can radiate only unidirectional radiation patterns with
medium gain. It is therefore difficult to produce a circularly
polarised omnidirectional radiation pattern using the
above-mentioned antennas fed by a CPW as a single-fed
type. A linearly polarised back-to-back rectangular patch
antenna configuration with an omnidirectional radiation
pattern bas been developed by one of the authors [4].
The purpose of this paper is to propose a new circularly
polarised microstrip antenna with an omnidirectional radia-
tion pattern. First, the configuration of a circularly polar-
ised microstrip antenna fed by a CPW, comprising a single-
fed type without a 90" hybrid, is proposed. This antenna
consists of two rectangular patches with a perturbation seg-
ment, which are arranged back-to-back relative to a CPW
on a ground plane.
The characteristics of the proposed antenna were clari-
fied by experiments. The radiation patterns and input
0 BE, 1999
IEE Procee&&-s online no. 19990568
Dot 10.1c49/ipmap:19~5~
Paper first received 24th Nomber 1998 and in revisedform 18th May 1999
The authors are with the Wireless Comnnication Technology Center,
T&ba Carporation,Hino, Tokyo 191-8555, Japan
IEE Proc.-Microw. Antennas Propag., Vol. 146, No. 4, Augusl 1999
the perturbation segment. Good circularly polarised omni-
directional radiation patterns and input impedance charac-
teristics were obtained. Next, the mechanism to produce a
circularly polarised wave was proved by using an electro-
magnetic simulator.
The proposed antenna is very simple in structure and low
in cost. So, it is therefore suitable for use in base stations or
terminal handsets in a variety of mobile communication
systems.
Lf
CPW
substrate
Fig. 1 Congguathn of a sbrgre microsnip antenmfid by a CPW
2 Antenna configuration
Fig. 1 shows a conventional rectangular patch antenna fed
by a CPW with perturbation segments, which was usually
used to generate a circularly polarised wave. Fig. 2 shows
the measured input impedance and the radiation pattern in
the x-z plane of the antenna with A = 4.0mm. The pattern
is basically a linearly polarised wave regardless of the size
of the perturbation segment. The input impedance and
radiation pattern did not change significantly as the size of
the perturbation segment is varied. From these results, it is
considered that a circularly polarised wave cannot be pro-
duced by using this single microstrip antenna fed by a
CPW as shown in Fig. 1. It is considered that two orthogo-
nal modes cannot separate to generate a circularly polar-
ised wave due to the influence of the CPW on the ground
plane. In Section 4, this is clarified by simulation results.
277
 1 907.000 MHz Two types of configurations are considered according to
CHI sf, 5dBl the location of the perturbation segments. In the frst type
(same type), the perturbation segments are located at the
same position (see the direction of the arrows) rectangular
patches A and B as shown in Fig. 3a. In the second type
(opposite type), the perturbation segments are located at
the opposite position in rectangular patches A and B as
C"2 Sf1 shown in Fig. 3b.
The conditions for exciting a circularly polarised wave
are as follows. The rectangular patch is excited at equal
amplitude and 90 degrees out of phase at the centre fre-
a STOP 1 950.000MHz quency by two orthogonal modes. In the case shown in
Fig. 3a, the currents on the ground plane in the rectangular
patches A and B flow in the opposite direction to each
other. So, it is expected that the degenerate mode can also
be separated from the dominant mode into two orthogonal
modes by eliminating the current flow preventing effect in
the ground plane due to the influence of the CPW as
shown in Fig. I.
On the other hand, in the case shown in Fig. 36, the cur-
rents in the ground plane flow in the same direction. There-
90 -180 -90 0 90 fore, it is considered that the degenerated mode cannot he
9,deg. separated from the dominant mode into two orthogonal
b modes by the CPW on the ground plane.
Fig.2 Measured i;?"t im&ms and rdialion patton of a single micro*
trip mfermafed by a PW 3 Experimental results
L - ISO.Omm,W, = 70.0mm, I = 1.6mm, E = 2.6, Lp = Wp = 47.3mm, WO=
44&, W,= 4.5mm, A = 4.0mm,f = 1.907dHz
(I Input impedance: b Radiation pattern Antennas were designed and tested to verify the circularly
polarised operation of the two newly proposed antenna
configurations shown in Fig. 3. To clarily the characteris-
Yt tics of the proposed back-to-back rectangular microstrip
antenna with perturbation segments, radiation patterns and
input impedances were measured as a parameter of the
width A of the perturbation segment, because the circularly
polarised radiation pattern depends heavily on the width A
of the Perturbation segment.
Experimental models were fabricated on a substrate with
E~ = 2.6 and t = 1.6mm. The length L, and width W, of the
substrate were 150.0mm and 70.0mm, respectively. The
length Lp and width W, of the rectangular patch were
determined at the resonance frequency 1.9GHz by using
the simple cavity method [5]. As a result, L, = W, were
47.3mm. The widths of the CPW were WO= 4.9mm and
Wi = 4.5mm, corresponding to a characteristic impedance
of 509. The length d of the CPW was 25.0mm, because an
input resistance of -50P was obtained at this length,
which was half of the patch length Lp [4].
Figs. 4 and 5 show the measured input impedances and
return losses as a parameter of the width A of the perturba-
tion segment in the microstrip antennas shown in Fig. 3a
and b. The reference plane is indicated by the mark ' 0
shown in Fig. 3. The only kink occurred in the same type
antenna shown in Fig. 3a with perturbation segments that
has been added at the same position in the rectangular
patches. It is therefore expected that a good circularly
polarised wave will be generated at 1.905GHz when A =
4.0mm. On the other hand, a kink was not generated in the
b locus of the input impedance of the opposite antenna
Fig.3 ConJpratkm of fwopropedback-fo-backw l m shown in Fig. 36. Hence, it is considered that a circularly
a Same t-: b Opposite type polarised wave is not generated in this microstrip antenna
with perturbation segments located at the opposite position
in the rectangular patches. In Section 4, the linearly polar-
Fig. 3 shows the newly proposed back-to-back rectangu- ised operation was clarified by simulation results.
lar patch antennas. In the proposed microstrip antenna Furthermore, it was clear that the 2 1 VSWR band-
configurations, each rectangular patch is arranged back-to- -
widths were 1.3 % in the single microstrip antenna as
back relative to the CPW on the ground plane, and pertur- shown in Fig. 1 and in the back-to-hack rectangular patch
bation segments are appropriately located at the corners of antenna as shown in Fig. 3b. These bandwidths were
two rectangular patches. almost the same as those of a conventional patch antenna
278 IEE Proc.-Microw. Anlenna~Propog., Vol. 146, No. 4, Augusl 1999
 CHI SI1 log MAG 5 d B l REF OdB 2.17.aiad~ CH1 S log MAG 5dW REF OdB 1.11.102dB

0
c
=-lo
BE .20
a -30
e!
-40
CH2 S,, 1UFS 2:40.185fl 5.5882fl 551.0pH CH2 SI? IUFS 1:28.03Ofl 5.3203fl 444.40pH

''
,'., f-1-0
I '
r--
STOP 1 %O.WOOW MHz STOP 1 950.003 000 MHz
START 1 850.W WO MHr START 1 850.WO WO MHr
a b
Fig.4 Measured kput impdmm ardrehm loss as aparmter of width A ufpiwbation segmnr: s m type
A = n 3.0mm. h 4.0mm

CHl S,.,. IOgMAG 5dB/ REFOdB 1-20.073dB

0
c
=.io
1 40
ca
-in
CH2 SI. 1 U FS 1:€3.505fl .507.68 fl 130.05 DF

STOP 1 95O.mWO MHz STOP 1 950.000000MHz

START 1 a5o.m ow MHZ START I a5o.ooo ow MHZ

a b
Fig.5 M e w e d mpr impedance and r e m loss as a p r m e t e r of width A ofpermbatwn segment: upposte type
A = n 4.0mm, b 5.0-

fed by a coaxial pin. Therefore, it is considered that the the proposed same type antenna as shown in Fig. 3a has
bandwidth of the proposed antenna was not changed using an almost omnidirectional circularly polarised radiation
a back-to-back microstrip antenna configuration. pattern.

90 -180 -90 0 90
8, deg.
Fig,.6 Meamedradiationwllem bx-zph
Same:type, f = 1.905GHe,
A =4.0m

To verily the circularly polarised operation of the pro-

posed antenna shown in Fig. 3a, the radiation patterns
were measured. Fig. 6 shows the measured x-z plane radi-
ation pattern of the same type antenna with perturbation -90 0 90
segment A = 4.0mm at 1.905GHz. As a result, an axial 8, deg.
ratio of < 4dB was obtained in the x-z plane, and a bore- Fig.7 M e m e d ~ & l b n ~ t t e mhy-=plane
sight axial ratio of 2dB was also obtained. It is clear that S m e type,f= I.905GHz, A = 4.0-

IEE Proe-Microw. Antennas Propag., Yo/.146, No.4, August 1999 279

 Fig. 7 shows the measured y-z plane radiation pattern of
the same type antenna shown in Fig. 3a at 1.905GHz. An
axial ratio of < 3dB was obtained in the range of -60
degrees.
Fig, 8 shows the measured axial ratio as a parameter of
frequency, In this experimental model, the parameters of
the patch antenna were not optimised to obtain a good
axial ratio. Taking this point into consideration, the band-
width of the axial ratio of the proposed same type antenna
would be almost the same as the bandwidth of a conven-
tional microstrip antenna fed by a coaxial pin.

a b

!i
'I

1.88 1.89 1.90 1.91 1.92 1.93

frequency, GHz
Fig.8 Measuredmidratw asapwwneter ofpepncy.
Same type, A = 4.0mm

4 Calculated results

The mechanism to produce the circular polarisation in

Fig. 3a was clarified by using an electromagnetic simula-
tor. The electrical field distributions underneath the micros-
trip antenna, which give insight into antenna operation, can
be calculated by using HP-HFSS. Figs. %11 show the con-
tours of the computed electric fields E, of the distributions
between the rectangular patch antenna and the ground
plane as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. These Figures indicate the
calculated results of the contours of the electric field of each
antenna when fed by 45" phase differences. The results
were normalised by the maximum value of the electric
fields Ez, and the maximum values in each Figures are dif-
ferent. High levels are shown in red lines, and lower levels
are shown in blue lines.
In Figs. 9 and 11 it can be seen that the high electric field
E, occurs only belonging to the radiation edges (x-direc-
tion). From these results, it is understood that these micro-
strip antennas were operating in a linear polarisation. On
the other hand, it can be seen that high electric fields E,
were rotated in the left-hand direction in Fig. 10. From
these results, only the same type antenna as shown in
Fig. 3a can regenerate two orthogonal modes to produce a
circular polarisation. These calculated results agreed with
the experimental results.
5 Conclusion
This paper has described experimental and calculated
results showing that only the proposed same type back-to-
back rectangular microstrip antenna can obtain an almost
omnidirectional circularly polarised radiation pattern. The
II
C d
Fig.9 calculaed clecfdcfEld dirtributionr bemeen rectanguhr patch and
grokld as shown k Fig. 1
f = 1.907GHz, A = 4.0-
Phase: a o",b 45". c 90'. d 135'
mechanism to produce a circularly polarised wave of the
proposed same type microstrip antenna configuration was
proved by simulation results. Good circularly polarised
radiation pattern with an omnidirectional pattern was
obtained by experiments. The proposed antenna is suitable
for use in microcellular, wireless LAN, and indoor radio
systems.
6 References
I IHARA,T., MANABE, T., FUJITA, M., and SUGIMOTO, Y.:
'Research activities on millimeter-wave indoor Wireless communication
systems at CRL'. Proceedings of ICUPC 95, Tokyo, Japan, 1995, pp.
197-200
2 KAMIMURA, Y., and HASEISHI, M.: 'Radiation properties of
microstrip antenna fed by coplanar waveguide'. Proceedings of
ISAP'96, Chiba, Japan, 1996, pp, 529-532
3 MATSUZAWA, S., TSUJI, I.,and lT0, K.: 'Radiation of circularly
polarised printed antenna composed of slots fed by coplanar
waveguides'. Proceedings of ISAp'96, Chiba, Japan, 1996, pp. 549-552
4 IWASAKI, H.: 'A microstrip array antenna with omnidirectional pat-
tern fed by a CPW. 1996 IEEE AF-S international symposium, July
1996, pp. 1912-1915
5 BAHL, LJ., and BHARTIA, P.: 'Microstrip antennas' (Artech House,
Norwood, MA, 1980), pp. 86-90

280 IEE Proc.-Microw. Antennas Propa& Voi 146, No. 4, Augurt 1999
 a
M b
a b

d
E d
betwen reckmgularpatch wui dirlriburwru benteen rectmguhr patch rmd
f = 1905GHz,A = 3.0-
Phase: a ,'O b 45", c 90'. d 135' Phase: c( ,'0 b 45', e 9V,d 135'

IEE Proc.-Microw. Antennas Propap.. Vol. 146, No. 4, Augusr 1999 281