MICROSTRIP ANTENNA DESIGN
3 LITCHFIELD DRIVE
HAMPTON NH 03842-1564 USA
PREFACE
The material presented in this eBook comes from a technical tutorial written by Kenneth Puglia, principal at E x H
Consulting Services, a company specializing in radar sensor systems, frequency synthesis, and frequency
conversion. Kenneth is a former fellow of technology at M/A COM and a design engineer at Radio Corporation of
America (RCA). He holds a BSEE from the University of Massachusetts and an MSEE from Northeastern University.
INTRODUCTION
A significant performance element in communication and radar systems, as well as wireless devices, is the
antenna, which may be defined as a transducer between a guided electromagnetic (EM) wave propagating along a
transmission line, and an EM wave propagating in an unbounded medium (usually free space) or vice-versa.
1
The
antenna is required to transmit or receive EM energy with directional and polarization properties suitable for the
intended application.
This eBook explores the radiation properties of rectangular microstrip antennas; specifically, the radiation method,
coupling of the feed structure to the microstrip radiating element – or elements in the case of array structures –
and the simple transmission line model utilized for design and performance estimates. In Part 1, the single
element, rectangular microstrip antenna is explored. Part 2 examines the properties of antenna arrays constructed
from the ensemble of single microstrip elements.
1
Ulaby, F. T., Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics, 2004 Ed., Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2004.
Microstrip Antenna Design
1 www.cadence.com/go/awr