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Bandwidth Investigation on Low Profile Stacked Patch Antennas with Slot

Coupling

Conference Paper · December 2007

DOI: 10.1049/ic.2007.0958 · Source: IEEE Xplore

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Takanori Noro Masaharu Takahashi

Japan Radio Co., Ltd Chiba University
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 BANDWIDTH INVESTIGATION ON LOW PROFILE
STACKED PATCH ANTENNAS WITH SLOT COUPLING
T. Noro*,†, M. Takahashi ††, K. Ito †††
*Graduate School of Science and Technology, Chiba University
1-33 Yayoicho Inageku Chiba-shi, Japan, noro.takanori@graduate.chiba-u.jp
Fax: +81 43 290 3933
†
Communication Equipment Division, Japan Radio Co., Ltd.
1-1 Shimorenjyaku 5 Chome Mitaka-shi, Japan
††
Recearch Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University
†††
Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University

Keywords: Low profile, Stacked patch antennas,

Slot coupling, wide bandwidth
Abstract
In this paper, the low profile stacked patch antenna with slot
apertures is proposed. The bandwidth enhancement capability
of the proposed antenna is demonstrated by using both the
equivalent network analysis and method of moments. As a
result, it is found that the proposed antenna structure is
effective to enhance the bandwidth of the patch antenna.
1 Introduction
Microstrip patch antennas possess very attractive features
such as simple, low profile, light weights, low cost, and so on.
A drawback of the conventional patch antennas is narrowband
characteristics concerning impedance matching. To improve
the narrowband characteristics, many works are available [1]-
[4]. In reference [1], a dielectric substrate with low permitti-
vity is used to reduce the Q factor. In reference [2],[3], an
aperture coupling structure such as a non-resonant slot is
employed to feed the patch antennas. In this configuration, a
reflector behind the patch antenna is required to suppress the
backward radiation. In reference [4], stacked patch antennas
using parasitic elements are used to enhance the bandwidth.
In this configuration, the bandwidth is controlled by the
distance between a feeding patch and a parasitic patch.
Therefore the height of the antenna increases as the
bandwidth of the antenna increases.
In this paper, a bandwidth enhancement technique for the
patch antenna is investigated that uses an equivalent network
model. This equivalent network model is referred to that of a
band-pass filter. Finally, a stacked patch antenna
configuration with low profile and wideband characteristics is
proposed based upon the investigated results of the equivalent
network model.
2 Issue about low profile stacked patch
Figure 1 shows a conventional stacked patch antenna
configuration that uses square shaped radiators. The stacked
patch antennas are fed using metal probe. The probe is 4 mm
in diameter. To design the antennas, the method of moments
is used. The operating frequency is 1.6 GHz. The distance TH
between the excited patch and the parasitic patch is varied
from 4 mm to 10 mm. The distance TL between the excited
patch and ground plane is fixed at 8 mm. The length and
width of the excited patch AL1 and those of the parasitic
patch AL2 are also changed to adjust the operation frequency
to approximately 1.6 GHz.
The simulated frequency responses of the return loss are
shown in Fig.2. The varied parameters are also depicted in the
same figure. When the distance TH decreases, the minimum
value of return-loss between two resonant frequencies
decreases. The minimum return loss mainly determines the
bandwidth of this kind of stacked patch antenna. Therefore,
the bandwidth of the return loss can be enhanced if the two
resonant frequencies are close to each other.
AL1
Parasitic patch
Feed patch
TH
AL2 TL
Feed point Ground plane
(a) Top view (b) Side view
Figure 1 Conventional stacked patch antenna with TL= 8 mm,
TH= 6 mm, AL1= 91mm, and AL2= 81mm.

0 Fig. 3, the calculated return loss of the equivalent network is
10
Return loss [dB]
20
30 TH = 4 mm
TH = 6 mm
TH = 8 mm
TH = 10 mm
40
1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7
Frequency [GHz]
Figure 2 Return loss of conventional stacked patch antenna
varying distance TH.
3 Equivalent network model
The equivalent network model of these patch antennas is
represented as shown in Fig. 3. In the equivalent network
model, the configuration is slightly modified from the model
described in reference [5]. The modified equivalent network
model consists of one LC network, one transformer, two
resonators, and one gyrator. The LC network and the
transformer correspond to the feeding structure of the patch
antennas, the resonators correspond to the patch elements and
the gyrator corresponds to the electromagnetic coupling
between the feed patch and the parasitic patch. From the
analogy of a band-pass filter, the following observations are
made. Firstly, the transformer decides the impedance
matching toward certain terminated impedance. Secondly, the
resonator [6] has two parameters: resonant frequency fo and
unloaded Q. The resonant frequency fo determines the
operating frequency of the antenna. The unloaded Q
determines the bandwidth of the antenna. In this model, the
effect of the higher-order modes of the patch antenna is not
considered. Lastly, the gyrator decides the bandwidth of the
patch antenna because the inverse of the gyrator impedance is
equivalent to the electromagnetic coupling coefficient.
Feed pin Feed point
LC network Transformer
Lin
Cin 50 Ω
Figure 3 Equivalent network model of stacked patch antenna
To derive the parameters of equivalent network as shown in
compared with the simulated return loss by the method of
moments. The initial value of the inductance Lin is calculated
using the equation described in reference [7], the initial values
of the resonant frequencies f1 and f2 are assumed tobe the
operating frequency, 1.6 GHz, and the initial value of the
unloaded Q for the excited patch Qu1 and that for the
parasitic patch Qu2 are calculated using the equation
described in reference [8].
Figure 4 shows the calculated return loss characteristics of the
equivalent network when the distance between the excited
1.8 patch and the parasitic patch TH is assumed to be fixed at TH
= 6 mm. The calculated return loss of the equivalent network
agrees well with the simulated return loss by the method of
moments although a different response between them is
observed in the higher frequency region.
Figure 5 shows the calculated frequency response of the
return loss when Qu2, the unloaded Q of resonator 2, is varied
from 5 to 15. When the Qu2 decreases, the return loss at the
operating frequency, 1.6 GHz, increases. In general, the
parameter Qu2 decreases when the distance between the patch
element and the ground plane decreases. This trend agrees
with the simulated results as shown in Fig. 2.
Figure 6 shows the calculated frequency response of the
return loss when the gyrator impedance Zg is varied from 4.5
to 7.5 Ω. When the Zg increases, the return loss at the
operating frequency, 1.6 GHz, also increases. This
phenomenon corresponds to the fact that the coupling
between the excited patch and the parasitic patch weakens
and agrees with the simulated results as shown in Fig. 2.
Therefore, the parameter Zg is considered to be related to the
electromagnetic coupling between the excited patch and the
parasitic patch.
From these two figures, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, it is found that to
control the coupling between the patch antennas is effective
to enhance the bandwidth of the patch antennas instead of
increasing the height of the patch antennas.
Excited patch Slot apertures Parasitic patch
Resonator1 Gyrator Resonator2
Yg
Za
f1, Qu1 Zg = 1/Yg f2, Qu2
To demonstrate the bandwidth enhancement capability, return
loss of the equivalent network model is calculated as the
parameter of the Qu2 and Zg. In these considerations, Qu2
decreases to take the reduction of the height into account, and
then Zg decreases to obtain the required return loss level. The
required return loss is assumed to be 14 dB. Figure 7 shows
the calculated frequency responses of return loss. The ripple
of return loss remain greater than 14 dB by selecting proper
value of Zg while the bandwidth decreases when Qu2
increases. The relationship between the bandwidth and Qu2 is
shown in Fig.8, and that between the Qu2 and Zg is also
shown in Fig.8. It is found that large value is required for the
Zg when Qu2 become large. In the other word, small coupling
coefficient is required to the low profile stacked patch
antennas.
0 length Lst and the slot width Wsl is changed. Secondly, the
10
Return loss [dB]
4 Stacked patch antennas with slot apertures
The proposed antenna structure with low profile and
wideband characteristics is illustrated in Fig. 9. The proposed
antennas are different from the conventional stacked patch
antennas by the insertion of a slot plate between the excited
and parasitic patch antennas. The slot plate has two apertures
which are arranged along the x-axis. The slot apertures
control the bandwidth of the stacked patch antenna to adjust
the coupling between the excited and parasitic patch antennas.
The proposed antenna is designed at the operation frequency,
1.6 GHz using the method of moments. In our simulations, an
infinite-sized ground plane is assumed. The feeding structure
to the patch antenna is the same as that described in Sect. 2.
Firstly, the frequency responses are shown when the slot
bandwidth of return loss is demonstrated when the distance
between the slot plate and parasitic patch is varied from 2mm

to 6mm. Then return loss of the proposed antenna is

compared with the conventional stacked patch antennas.
20 Finally, radiation characteristics of the proposed antenna is
shown.

30 Equivalent network model The simulated frequency responses of the input impedance
MoM are shown in Fig. 10 when the slot length Lsl is varied from
40 100 mm to 160mm. The other antenna parameters are listed in
1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Table 1. The size of the kink does not change although the
position of the kink moves to the left on the smith chart.
Frequency [GHz] Therefore, the Lsl does not affect to the bandwidth of the
Figure 4 Comparison of return loss characteristics proposed antenna.

Figure 11 shows the simulated frequency responses of the

Qu2 = 5 input impedance when the slot width Wsl is varied from 50
Qu2 = 7 mm to 80 mm. The slot length Lsl is fixed at 140 mm and the
Qu2 = 11 other parameters are same as listed in Table 1. The size of
Qu2 = 15 kink is reduced by narrowing the slot width Wsl. It is found
0
that the slot width is the effective parameter to control the
bandwidth for the proposed antenna structure.
10
Return loss [dB]

Zg = 4.5
Zg = 5.5
20 Zg = 6.5
Zg = 7.5
0
30
10
Return loss [dB]

40
1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8
20
Frequency [GHz]
Figure 5 Return loss versus Qu2
30

40
1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8
Frequency [GHz]
Figure 6 Return loss versus Zg
 Qu2=10, Zg=5.4 Z
Qu2=20, Zg=10.8 Wsl Lsl Y
Qu2=40, Zg=21.5 Lst
0
X
Return loss [dB]

5 AL2

10 Z
Slot apertures Parasitic patch
X
15 TH
TL2
14 dB TL1
20 Slot plate Excited patch Ground plane
1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 (b) side view
Frequency [GHz] Figure 9 Geometry of proposed patch antenna.
Figure 7 bandwidth enhancement capability
by using the parameters of Qu2 and Zg. Table 1 Parameters of proposed patch antenna.
Parameters Value [mm]
30 Width and length of excited patch AL1 92
Bandwidth of return loss [%]

15 Width and length of excited patch AL2 80

Impedance of gyrator

Slot width Wsl 65

Slot length Lsl 173
20 Distance between excited patch and GND TL1 8
10 Distance between excited patch and slot plate TL2 1
Distance between parasitic patch and slot plate TH 5
10
Lsl = 100 mm
5 Lsl = 120 mm
0 Lsl = 140 mm
20 30 40 50 10 Lsl = 160 mm
Unloaded Q of patch antenna
Figure 8 Relationship between bandwidth characteristics
and Impedance value of gyrator.

The reduction of the height and the bandwidth of the

proposed antenna are investigated. The simulated frequency
responses of return loss are shown in Fig. 12. When the
distance between the parasitic patch and the slot plate
decreases, the ripple of return loss is fully suppressed. For Start: 1.4 GHz
example, the bandwidth of return loss less than 14 dB with Stop: 1.8 GHz
TH = 2 mm is approximately 5 %.

Figure 14 shows the simulated frequency response of the Figure 10 Return loss of varying the slot length Lsl
return loss. In this case, the slot length Lsl and the slot width
Wsl are adjusted so that the minimum return loss is greater
than 14 dB at the operation frequency. The bandwidth of the Wsl = 50 mm
return loss greater than 14 dB is approximately 10 %. For Wsl = 60 mm
comparison, the return loss characteristics of the conventional Wsl = 70 mm
stacked patch antenna is shown. Total height of the Wsl = 80 mm
conventional patch antenna is same as that of the proposed
antenna.

Figure 15 shows the gain characteristics of the proposed

antenna. A flat frequency response of the gain is obtained.
The gain reduction in the higher frequency range is thought to
be due to the effect of the parallel plate modes between the
slot plate and the ground plane.
For example, the radiation pattern in the ZX plane is shown in Start: 1.4 GHz
Fig. 16. The radiation pattern is simulated at the operation Stop: 1.8 GHz
frequency 1.6 GHz.
Figure 11 Return loss of varying the slot width Wsl
 TH = 1
Co-pol. （Eφ） Angle θ[deg.]
TH = 3
TH = 5 X-pol. （Eθ）
0 0
-30 30
10
Return loss [dB]

-60 60
20

30
-90 90
-30 -20 -10 0 10
40 (dBi)
1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Figure 15 Example of radiation pattern
Frequency [GHz] at operation frequency 1.6 GHz
Figure 12 effect of slot width on bandwidth enhancement.

Proposed antenna with slot plate Conclusion

Conventional stacked patch antenna To realize the bandwidth enhancement, a stacked patch
0
antenna inserted the slot plate between the excited and the
parasitic patch is proposed. This configuration is based upon
Return Loss [dB]

10 the results of investigation using the equivalent network

model of a stacked patch antenna. As a result, it is found that
the proposed antenna is effective for controlling the
20 bandwidth of the stacked patch antenna.

30 References
[1] Y. Suzuki, T. Chiba. “Designing method of microstrip
40 antenna considering the bandwidth”, IEICE Trans.
1.45 1.5 1.55 1.6 1.65 1.7 Japan, vol.E-67, pp. 488-493, (1984).
Frequency [GHz] [2] F. Croq, D.M. Pozar. “Millimeter-wave design of
Figure 13 Comparison of return loss between proposed wideband aperture-couple stacked microstrip antennas”,
and conventional stacked patch antenna IEEE Trans. Antennas and Propagat., vol.AP-39, pp.
1770-1776, (1991).
[3] S. Mestdagh, W.D. Raedt, G.A.E Vandenbosch. “CPW-
10 Fed Stacked Microstrip Antennas”, IEEE Trans.
Antennas and Propagat., vol.AP-52, pp. 74-83, (2004).
8 [4] S. A. Long, M.D. Waltman. “A dual-frequency stacked
circular disk antenna”, IEEE Trans. Antennas and
Gain [dBi]

6 Propagat., vol.AP-27, pp. 270-273, (1979).

[5] G.L. Matthaei, L. Yound, E.M. Jones. “Microwave
4 Filters, Impedance Matching Networks and Coupling
Structures”, Mc Graw Hil, NY, (1964).
[6] H.S. Pues, A.R. Van De Capelle. “An Impedance-
2 Matching Tehnique for Increasing the Bandwidth of
Microstrip Antennas”, IEEE Trans. Antennas and
0 Propagat., vol.AP-37, pp. 1345-1354, (1989).
1.45 1.5 1.55 1.6 1.65 1.7 [7] B.C. Wadell. “Transmission Line Design Handbook”,
Frequency [GHz] Artech house, boston, pp. 382-383, (1991).
Figure 14 Gain of proposed antenna [8] J.R. James, P.S. Hall, C. Wood. “Microstrip Antenna
Theory and design”, Peter Peregrinus, UK and NY,
(1981).

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