Proximity-Coupled Microstrip Patch Antenna Miniaturization

Using New Fractal Geometry

S. Sadat*, M. Fardis, Gh. Dadashzadeh, R. K Baee
Iran Telecommunication Research Centre

ssadat@itrc.ac.ir

Abstract In this paper, for more antenna miniaturization, we present a novel fractal geometry that
allows decrease in the resonance frequency without occupying more space, while remaining
radiation pattern similar to that of normal square patch. Also for improving the inherently narrow
bandwidth of patch fractal antenna a proximity-coupled feed is implemented. The performance is
demonstrated by simulation based on a numerical analysis with the Finite Element Method (FEM)
and a practical application to Personal Communication Services (PCS).
Keywords: Fractal, Microstrip Antenna, Bandwidth, 3/2 Curve.

Introduction
When the size of an antenna is made much smaller than the operating wavelength, it becomes
highly inefficient. Its radiation resistance decreases, while proportionally, the reactive energy
stored in antenna neighborhood rapidly increases. Both phenomena make small antennas difficult
to match to the feeding circuit, and they display a high Q with very narrow bandwidth when it's
matched [1]. There are various solutions to overcome this problem. The best way making small
antenna is application of fractal geometry [2], [3]. In recent years, the fractal shape antenna
elements have drawn interests of many antenna designers. Fractal geometries are featuring two
common properties: fractals are space-filling contours, meaning electrical lengths play such as a
viable miniaturization technique and self similarity property. Fractal shaped antenna have various
advantages, such as wideband, multiband and reduced size in wire antennas [2], [3], but in
microstip patch antennas the gain and impedance bandwidth decreases seriously, so we should
solve this problem using the methods of broadbanding of a patch antenna. For improving the
inherently narrow bandwidth of a microstrip antenna, it is very effective to use an electrically thick
substrate [4]. Several studies for feeding the microstrip antenna with a thick substrate have been
reported, such as the L-shaped probe [5] and the capacitively probe-fed structure [6]. Recently the
proximity-coupled microstrip antenna with a linear slot in ground plane has also been proposed
[61, [7]. It should be noted that the proximity-coupled microstrip antenna without a slot in the
ground plane is hard to achieve impedance matching. In this paper, we miniaturize a microstrip
patch antenna with suitable gain and impedance bandwidth. For increasing the frequency
bandwidth, a proximity-coupled feed is used and an H-shaped slot is placed in along the diameter
of the square patch. In order to validate, we compare the proposed model with Minkowski and
koch geometries.

Proposed Geometry Description

The proposed model is an iterative model to a normal square patch with a generator of shape is
called 3/2 curve, shown in fig. 1; substituting both length and width of the patch antenna structure
with generator shape.

Fig. 1 Generator for 3/2 curve fractal

0-7803-8883-6/05/$20.00 2005 IEEE

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On the base of above figure, the fractal dimension can be determined as:

4(1/ 4) + 4(1/ 4)D =1

Where D is 3/2 from equation (1) and:
Perimeter,

(1)

2'.Perimetero

(2)

Which n is the number of iteration. The equation (2) shows that the perimeter at each iteration is
doubled.
Antenna Configuration

Fig. 2 shows the geometry of substrate and feed line of microstrip antenna. The structure consists
of a two layers substrate, Square patch is mounted on a upper layer substrate and feed line is the
between two layers. The substrate consists of foam material (low dielectric constant= 1.05) in the
upper layer and FR4 glass-epoxy (dielectric constant F,"4.4 and loss tangent=0.014) in the lower
layer. The microstrip-line feed is designed as a 50Q1 line and symmetrically located above an Hshaped slot. For the purpose of analyzing the antenna, fixed square patch is 40mmx40mm and
finite ground plane is lOOmmx 120mm. The open-circuited tuning stub (D), slot parameters (S and
T), and substrate thickness H and h is defined as follow: D=8mm, T=5mm, S=20mm, H=10.2 mm
and h=1.6 mm. these parameters dominate the impedance and radiation characteristics of the
antenna.

Slot
toheroGroundn
2~~~~~~

MLerostrip Line Feed

H
Side View
Top View

Fig. 2 Geometry of microstip feed line and substrate

Numerical analysis
The numerical analysis is derived as a sampled data from microstrip patch fractal antenna using
Ansoft-HFSS which is used for FEM; Fig. 3 shows fractal square patch geometries. In order to
comparison and validate the proposed model, Minkowski and Koch model are also simulated. To
improve the impedance matching, the H-slot is placed along the patch diameter, without changing
the main beam direction or current distribution. Fig. 4 shows the return loss of normal and fractal
geometries. The proposed model reduces the resonant frequency more than other fractal
geometries and it's concluded that the miIniaturization is better done, although the bandwidth
impedance reduces but it could be compensated by parameters which have been stated in antenna
configuration section. The proposed model can potentially be used as a base station antenna for
(PCS) with respect to resonant frequency. Fig. 5 shows the radiation pattem of fractal patch
geometries. The main beam direction has not been changed, but the antenna gain reduces. Table 1
shows the percent of miniaturization and gain of fractal geometries. Minkowski geometry has the
minimum gain and the proposed model has lost 2dB in gain. 3/2 curve geometry miniaturizes the
patch antenna about 37%, while Koch geometry could only miniaturize less than 15%. Due to

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proximity (electromagnetically) coupled structure when the fractal are applied to miniaturization,
the impedance and gain bandwidth are suitable value and it could be applied in the array antenna
design.
Conclusions
The novel fractal patch geometry was developed with adequate bandwidth and gain and verified
by simulation. This structure reduces the resonant frequency considerably with a few decreases in
gain. Also for improving the inherently narrow bandwidth of patch fractal antenna, a proximitycoupled feed is implemented. Due to the advantage of simplified configuration, suitable
bandwidth and decrease the mutual coupling due to increase spacing between elements; then the
proposed antenna is suitable in the array antenna design and practical application to PCS
networks.
References

[1] D. H. Wemer and R. Mittra, Frontiers in Electromagnetics, IEEE press series on microwave
technology and RF, New York, 2000.
[2] F. Arazm, R. Karimzadeh Baee, Ch. Ghobadi, J. Norinia, " Square Loop Antenna
Miniaturization Using New Fractal Geometry," IEEE Trans. on Advanced Communication
Technology, 6th Intemational Conference, Vol. 1, pp. 164 - 169, 2004.
[3] J. P.Gianvittorio and Y. Rahmat-Sanmi, "Fractal Antennas: A Novel Antenna Miniaturization
Technique and Applications," IEEE Antennas & Propagatlion Magazine,Vol. 44, No. 1, February
2002.
[4] C. L. Mak, K. M. Luk, K. F. Lee, and Y. L.Chow, "Experimental Study of a Microstrip Patch
Antenna with an L-shaped Probe," IEEE Trans. on Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 48, pp. 777783, May 2000.
[5] R. Garg, P. Bhartia, I. Bahl and A. Ittipibon, Microstrip Antenna Design Handbook, Artech
House, Boston, London, 2001.
[6] M. A. Gonzalez de Aza, J Zapata, and J. A. Encinar, "Broad-band Cavity-Backed and
Capacitively Probe-Fed Microstrip Antenna Patch Arrays," IEEE Trans. on Antennas &
Propagation, Vol. 48, pp. 784-789, May 2000.
[7] S. Y. Ke, "Broadband Proximity-Coupled Microstrip Antenna with an H-shaped Slot in the
Ground Plane," IEEE Trans. on Antennas & Propagation, Vol.43, pp. 530-533, 2002.

(a) First-order of Koch, Minkowski and 3/2 curve niicrostrip patch antenna

(h) Second-order of Koch, Minkowski and 3/2 curve Mscrostnip patch antenna

Figj 3 First and second order of simulated fractal patch antenna

264

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I
..- s_ff".'f.1
-Ath .--.I
-*,h
._._.s_
v
t..v-

Degree & type of

Fractal
Normal Patch
0
1
Koch
2

Minkowski

F.

Dimension of equivalent
Microstrip Patch (mm)
40

(G)
2.7

46.956
46.956

2.3
2.3

2.2
2.1

-2

Percent of

14.8138
14.8138

18.5186
22.229

49.091
51.4286

3t2 Curve

i LL A
25

1.5

29.63
37

I___ 1. - i? _
1.75

2 25

25

~~~;;_-

8
7.1
6.9
4.9
4.5
6.25
5.9

II

II
I

rX A

2.75

Gain (dB)

Miniaturization
0

3 ,5

3.75

y
q-y
(GM)

-n

1.25

1.5

?5

2.25

2.5

2.75

3.25

3IS

3.f5

(CFk)

Microstrip patch Antenna and first-order of

Koch, Mikowski and 3/2 curve

Microstrip patch Antenna and second-order

of Koch. Mikowski and 3/2 curve

Fig. 4 Return loss of square patch, first and second order of simulated fractal patch antennas

(a) Pattem of first-order of Koch, Minkowski and 3/2 curve Microstrip patch antenna

(b) Pattern of second-order of Koch, Minkowski and 3/2 curve Microstrip patch antenna

Fig. 5 Pattem of First and second order of simulated fractal patch antenna

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