Wideband Patch Antenna for 5-6 GHz WLAN Applications

M. A&, T. Siltironnarit', V. K. Kunda', H A . Hwang', R. A. Sadle?, and G. J. Hayes'

I . Department of Electrical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Swevringen Building, Columbia. SC 29208. Tel: (803). 171 1488: Email: alimo@enm.sc.edu 2. Sany Ericsson Mobile Communications, P.O. Box 13969, 7001 Development Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.

Abstract
A wideband microstnp patch antenna has been analyzed, designed, fabricated, and measured for wireless local area network (LAN) applications in the 5-6 GHz frequency range. The antenna is internal to the housing of a personal digital assistant (PDA), such as a PALM organizer and has the dimensions of 28 mm by 9 mm by 3 mm on FR4 substrate. The antenna meets or exceeds the bandwidth requirements for the dual-band IEEE 802.1 l a wireless local area network (WLAN) applications (5.15-5.35 GHr and 5.725-5.825 GHz) within 2:l VSWR.

Introduction
The growth of wireless communications has created a tremendous demand for miniature antennas. Since many devices support multiple operating hands there is a growing need for minialure wide or multi-band antennas. The most popular among miniature antenna choices is the microstrip patch antenna. Such an antenna, however, is inherently narrow-band [I]. Therefore, researchers are exploring methods and techniques I o design widc or multi-hand patch antennas. Most recent examples of research on wideband microstrip patch antennas can be found in [21-[31. The studies presented in [2]-[3] address the bandwidth issue using L-probe proximity fed annular ring design and E-shaped design. We present a different approach. We focus on a number of specific issues such as, ( I ) wideband or multi-band operation specifically in the IEEE 802.1 la wireless local zrca network bands (5.15-5.35 GHz and 5.725-5.825 GHz), (2) thin (3 mm) design that can be directly printed on the PCB (printed circuit board) and packaged (within Ihe housing of a PDA). and (3) nearly uniform angular cnverage which IS generally required for these kind of applications. We consider a folded microstrip patch configmiltion described in [4]. Among other folded patch design concepts in the literature includes the one in [SI. The antenna proposed in [41 is a narrowband antenna suitable for GPS or Bluetooth application. We present a wideband design achieved through proximity parasitic coupling that covers the 5.15 to 5.35 and 5.125 to 5.825 GHz bands within 2:1 VSWR. The proposed design can also operate from 5.1 to 5.9 GHz

within 2 . 5 ~ 1VSWR making it suitable for widehand application. The dua-hand or wideband design has been made possible by optimizing and utilizing the coupling between the radiating parch and an extended PCB ground plane.

Antenna Geometry
The geometry of the antenna is shown in Figs. la and I h. The top YEW is shown in Fig. la. The dimensions of the PCB are I20 mm by 80 mm by 2 mm. The folded microstrip patch antenna is printed on two layers bf dielectrics each with ~ ~ 4 . 7 . longer dimension o f the patch is along the x-axis while the The shorter dimension is along the y-axis. More detail information about the antenna feed can be obtained from Fig. 1h. The top PCB ground has been extcnded so that it is in the middle of b t h layers o f the folded patch. This extended ground layer when coupled with the driven patch provides the widehand characteristic. This concept of multi-hand operation utilizing coupling between radiating and parasitic elements is known [6]-[8]. We present a detailed analysis using HFSS (high frequency structure simulator) [9] which include impedance, bandwidth, radiation pattern. and gam as function of antenna parameters, substrate parameters. and PCB size.

Results
Computed VSWR versus frequency data as a function of the overlap function, g r I S shown a Fig. 2d. Clearly for gr=3 mm. the coupling between the n driven patch and the parasitic ground is minimal since the overlap region is - 1 mm. As g r increases to 4, 5. 1, and 8 mm coupling increases and the antenna starts to show broadband or dual-band response. When gr increases beyond 5 mm the midhand VSWR starts to increase and for gr=7 and 8 mm the midhand VSWR is considerably higher making the antenna dual-band. To satisfy [he IEEE 802.1 l a requirement the antenna can be operated either way as long as the 5.155.35 CHr and the 5.725-5.825 FHc bands fall within the specified VSWR (preferably 2:l). Computed input impedance data as function of frequency are shown in Fig. 2b. Note that as gr increases from 3 to 5 mm the antenna impedance locus shows B distinct loop indicating widehand impedance characteristics. As g r starts to increase even further the loop slatis to get larger. Still there are two resonances. but bandwidth is not as wide since the impedance locus is much larger. A laboratory prototype o f the proposed antenna was built and tested far VSWR. The antenna was mountcd on an FR3 printed circuit board and fed using a coaxial cable. Unclad 1.S mm thick FR4 substrate pieccs were used to mount the radiating elements on hoth sides. Measured VSWR data compared with computed data are shown in Fig. 3a. The agreement between the measured and the computed data is quite good. Computed and measured resonant frequencies are

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abnut the same. The measured bandwidths in both bands arc also in good agreement with the computed bandwidths within 2:1 VSWR. It is clear that the antenna satisfies the bandwidth requirements for the IEEE 802.1la LAN (5.155.35 CHI and 5.725-5.82s GHz). The midband VSWR is only as high as 2.7:1. Fig. 3b shows the current distribution for the antenna. We can clearly observe that the intensity of cunent increases particularly in the overlap region between the radiating element and the extended ground plane. This indicates the presence of coupling between the radiating element and the extended ground plane, which increases in intensity as the g r increases even further.

References
1. D.M. Pozar and D.H. Schaubert, Microstrip Antennas, Editors. IEEE Press, 1995 2. Y. -X. Guo, K. -M. Luk, and K. -F. Lee, L-Probe Proximity-Fed Annular Rine Microstrio Antennas. IEEE Trans. Aiireiinas Prooamt.. vol. 49. no. . I . pp. 19-21, Jan. 2001. 3. F. Yane, X. -X. Zhane, X. Ye, and Y. Rdhmat-Samii. Wide-Band EShaped Parch Antennas for Wireless Communications, IEEE Trans. Anter,!iuu Propugul., vol. 49, no. 7, pp. 1094-1100, July. 2001. 4. A. Faraone and D. McCoy, The Folded Patch Omnidirectional Antenna. IEEE Antennas and Propoagation Society International Symposium Digest, 2001, vol. 2. pp. 712-715. 5 . C. G. Christodoulou. P. F. Wahid. M. R. Mahbub, and M. C. Bailey, Design of a minimum-loss series-fed foldable microstep, IEEE Trans. Antennas andPropqa1.. pp. 1264 -1267, August 2000, 6 . H. E. King and J. L. Wong, An experimental Study of a balun-fed opensleeve dipole in front of a metallic reflector, IEEE Trans. Antennas and Propugol., pp. 201-204, March 1972. 7. M. Ali. M. Okoniewski, M.A. Stuchly. and S.S. Stuchly, Dual-Frequency Strip-Sleeve Monopole for Laptop Computers, IEEE Trans. Antennas urrdPropagat.. Vol. 47. No. 2. Feb. 1999. pp. 317-323. 8. M. Ali, G.J. Hayes, Huan Sheng-Hwung and R.A. Sadler, Design of a Multi--Band Intemill Antenna for Third Generation Mobile Phone Handsets, IEEE T m m Anterinas and Propagat. (to appear April 2003). 9. Ansoft HFSS, Ansoft Corporation: hrto:liwwwaosoft.co.iolhf~~.htm.
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5 i 'or --i -

Figure 1: AnCma geometry.

(a)

(b)

Figure 2 (a) computed VSWR versus frequency dam and (b) Smith chart plot aithgr (m) ss parameter.

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