Broadband gap‐coupled assembly of patches forming elliptical patch antenna

The radiation performance of a compact gap-coupled assembly of patches forming the geometry of elliptical patch antenna is simulated and tested using glass epoxy FR4 substrate material. This assembly is achieved by cutting a conventional elliptical patch antenna geometry into three independent patches through two narrow slits parallel to minor axis of elliptical patch. The two outer patches are identical in shape and size, and the central patch is excited through inset probe feed. Two outer patches are gap coupled to the center patch. This arrangement of antenna elements resonate at three frequencies 3.41, 3.62, and 5.54 GHz, respectively. The first two frequencies are closely spaced and gives an improved bandwidth (>10%). The radiation patterns of antenna at all three frequencies are almost identical in shape and nature. Details of the antenna design approach and experimental results are presented and discussed systematically. Measurements are in excellent agreement with simulation results which make the proposed structure promising for Wi-Max applications. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:340-344, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25693