Strain-Insensitive Hierarchically Structured Stretchable Microstrip Antennas for Robust Wireless Communication

As the key component of wireless data transmission and powering,stretchable antennas play an indispensable role in flexible/stretchable electronics.However,they often suffer from frequency detuning upon mechanical deformations;thus,their applications are limited to wireless sensing with wireless transmission capabilities remaining elusive.Here,a hierarchically structured stretchable microstrip antenna with meshed patterns arranged in an arched shape showcases tunable resonance frequency upon deformations with improved overall stretchability.The almost unchanged resonance frequency during deformations enables robust on-body wireless communication and RF energy harvesting,whereas the rapid changing resonance frequency with deformations allows for wireless sensing.The proposed stretchable microstrip antenna was demonstrated to communicate wirelessly with a transmitter(input power of−3 dBm)efficiently(i.e.,the receiving power higher than−100 dBm over a distance of 100 m)on human bodies even upon 25%stretching.The flexibility in structural engineering combined with the coupled mechanical-electromagnetic simulations,provides a versatile engineering toolkit to design stretchable microstrip antennas and other potential wireless devices for stretchable electronics.

The Isolation of Dual-Polarization Multiplex Microstrip Antennas

A simple theory is developed for the analysis of isolation of dual-polarization multiplex microstrip antennas. The analysis is based on the 'cavity model' and the 'reaction principle'. The shape of the field distribution between the patch and ground plane is assumed to be well approximated by that of the resonant modes of a corresponding magnetic and electric walled cavity. Two element microstrip antennas of various geometries for either transmitting or receiving linearly and circularly polarized waves are studied. Some methods are found to reduce their physical dimensions and to evaluate the isolation between the elements for various configurations.

On the Design of Slot Cut Circularly Polarized Circular Microstrip Antennas

Circularly polarized microstrip antenna is frequently realized by cutting the slot inside the patch and feeding it along the diagonal axis. In the reported literature, procedure to design them at any given frequency is not available. In proposed work, circularly polarized slot cut circular microstrip antenna at 900 MHz is discussed. By studying the surface current distributions at two orthogonal modes, formulations in their resonant length are proposed. The frequencies calculated using them closely agree with simulated results. Using proposed formulation, procedure to design circular polarized antennas at different frequencies is presented that gives circular polarized response. Thus, proposed work will be helpful to design similar circular polarized circular microstrip antenna at any desired frequency.

Hankel Transform Domain Analysis of Dual-Frequency Stacked Circular Microstrip Antennas

This paper presents an accurate and efficient method for the computation of resonant frequencies and radiation patterns of a dual frequency stacked circular microstrip antenna.The problem is first formulated using the Hankel transform domain approach and expressions are obtained for the Green's function in the Hankel transform domain,which relates the electric surface currents on the circular disks and tangential electric field components on the surfaces of the substrates. Then Galerkin's method together with Parsebal's relation for Hankel transformation is used to solve for the unknown currents, In the derivation process,the resonant frequencies are numerically determined as a function of the radii of two circular disks and thicknesses and relative permittivies of two substrates.Finally,the far zone radiation patterns are directly obtained from the Green's function and the currents. The numerical results for the resonant frequencies and radiation patterns are in excellent agreement with the available experimental data corroborating the accuracy of the present method.

Metamaterials and metasurfaces for designing metadevices:Perfect absorbers and microstrip patch antennas

In the past twenty years, electromagnetic metamaterials represented by left-handed metamaterials（LHMs） have attracted considerable attention due to the unique properties such as negative refraction, perfect lens, and electromagnetic cloaks. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of our group＇s work on metamaterials and metasurfaces. We present several types of LHMs and chiral metamaterials. As a two-dimensional equivalent of bulk three-dimensional metamaterials, metasurfaces have led to a myriad of devices due to the advantages of lower profile, lower losses, and simpler to fabricate than bulk three-dimensional metamaterials. We demonstrate the novel microwave metadevices based on metamaterials and metasurfaces： perfect absorbers and microwave patch antennas, including novel transmission line antennas,high gain resonant cavity antennas, wide scanning phased array antennas, and circularly polarized antennas.

Broadband printed antennas and dual-polarized microstrip and waveguide slot antenna arrays

In order to meet the urgent needs in wireless communications, microwave image synthetic aperture radars （SAR）, and electronic warfare systems, this dissertation studies several types of broadband dual-polarized planar antenna elements and arrays, and proposes a few of novel designs with experimental verification. The main accomplishments reported in the dissertation are as follows.

Computation of Resonant Frequency of Gap-coupled Ring Microstrip Antennas

In this paper, an analytical model for computing the resonant frequency of the gap-coupled ring microstrip patch antennas is developed. The analytical model is based upon the cavity model along with circuit theory. Using the field expressions and boundary conditions, the transcendental equation for the structure is developed. The analytically computed results are compared with the simulated results. The simulation work is carried out by using computer simulation technology(CST) microwave studio simulator.The comparison between simulated and computed results shows good agreement.

Novel Closed-Form Solution for Analyzing Mutual Coupling Between Cylindrical Comformal Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antennas

Based on the integral equation formulations and the moment method, a novel closed form solution for analyzing the mutual coupling effect between the cylindrical comformal rectangular microstrip patch antennas is presented. By using this algorithm, the elements of the impedance matrix and exciting vector are cast into closed forms, thus the computational efficiency is improved dramatically. Numerical results are presented to verify the validity and reliability of the algorithm.

Characteristic-Based Time Domain Method for Cylindrically Conformal Microstrip Patch Antennas

The characteristics of a cylindrical conformal microstrip patch antenna are analyzed by using the characteristic-based time domain （CBTD） method. A governing equation in the cylindrical coordinate system is formulated directly to facilitate the analysis of cylindrically conformal microstrip patch antennas. The algorithm has second-order accuracy both in time and space domain and has the potential to eliminate the spurious wave reflection from the numerical boundaries of the computational domain, Numerical results demonstrate the important merits and accuracy of the proposed technique in computational electromagnetics,

A Simplified Full-Wave Analysis for Microstrip Patch Antennas

The spectral domain integral equation(SDIE) provides an accurate and efficient method for computing the resonant frequency, radiation patterns, etc . Using continuous Fourier transform, the formulation utilizes the singular integral equations via the Glerkin's method to derive the deterministic equation with fewer mathematical manipulations. In contrast, discrete Fourier transform(DFT) requires intricate mathematical labor. The present scheme requires a small size, i.e ., (2×2) matrix, and it is possible to extract higher order modal solutions conveniently. Moreover, computation is reduced with the same convergence properties. Based on the present scheme, some results for resonant frequency and radiation patterns compared with available data and computed current distribution on the patch are presented.

Dual-Frequency Operation of Bow-Tie Microstrip Antenna

Characteristics of a single-feed dual-frequency bow-tie microstrip antenna are studied. By using the variation method, simple formulas for resonant frequencies of the bow-tie microstrip antenna are derived. It is shown that the dual-frequency ratio can be controlled easily by choosing the parameters of the antenna. This design gives compact antenna size and simple antenna structure. Experimental results are presented, verifying the validity of the design.

Study of multi-band property of rectangular microstrip patch antenna having different numbers of wide slots

The property of multi-band operation has been studied and investigated analytically through the design of a rectangular patch microstrip antenna having different numbers of wide slots arranged at both the radiating edges. The analyses were carried out using the method of moments simulation software. It is shown that a patch with three slots has a multi-band feature with four resonant frequencies at 1.6, 1.8, 2.65, and 4.83 GHz and adequate values of return loss and gain. It is also shown that a patch with two pairs of wide slots arranged at both the radiating edges has the dual band feature with resonant frequencies at 1.64 and 1.8 GHz and good values of return loss and gain.

Dual-Polarized Slot-Coupled Microstrip Antenna with Very High Isolation

A wideband dual-polarized slot-coupled stacked microstrip antenna with very high isolation and low cross-polarization is presented. To improve isolation between two poiarization ports, the stacked patches are excited by an open-ended and a T-shaped microstrip lines both via two H-shaped slots placed in a ＂T＂ configuration. The measured isolation is better than 40.5 dB over the bandwidth from 8.8 to 9.8 GHz with cross-polarization level less than - 28.5 dB. The measured VSWR ≤ 2 bandwidths reach 20.7 96 and 19.196 at the verrical and horizontal polarization ports, respectively. This antenna is suitable to be used as array elements in spacebome synthetic aperture radars （SAR） and active phased array radars.

A BROADBAND APERTURE-COUPLED STACKED MICROSTRIP ANTENNA WITH BOTH PATCHES NOTCHED AND OFFSET

This paper proposes a new approach to further improving the bandwidth of a typical aperture-coupled stacked microstrip antenna by cutting triangular notches in the radiating sides of both radiating patches together with offsetting both patches. An antenna applying this new approach is designed,fabricated,and tested. The experimental antenna could achieve a measured impedance bandwidth of about 37.5% for the Voltage Standing Wave Ratio(VSWR) ≤ 2in X-band.

Wireless Strain Measurement Based on a Microstrip Patch Antenna

Wireless interrogation of a rectangular microstrip patch antenna for strain measurement is investigated by simulations.To analyze the antenna performance,a microstrip line-feeding patch antenna at 10 GHz is designed.A patch antenna wirelessly fed by a horn is proposed to measure the strain.The direction information of strain detected by the patch antenna is also considered.The strain can be detected both in the width and length directions.It is shown that the strain can be measured wirelessly using a standard horn antenna.This kind of wireless strain-sensing technique offers significant potential for wireless structural health monitoring(SHM),especially for high-end equipment.

Wideband dual-polarized slot-coupled microstrip array for synthetic aperture radar application

An 8 × 1-element wideband dual-polarized slot-coupled microstrip antenna array with high isolation and low crosspolarization in X-band is presented. The array antenna offers an impedance bandwidth （VSWR≤2） of 23% and 21% for dual polarization ports, respectively. The measured isolation between two polarization ports is better than 35 dB and the measured cross-polarization level below -25 dB in the main beam over the operation frequency band of 9.35 GHz to 9.75 GHz. This array is well suitable for X-band SAR （synthetic aperture radar） antenna apphcation.

Mutual coupling suppression of aperture coupled microstrip antenna array

A mutual coupling suppression method is proposed for microstrip antenna array by cutting four small semi-circle annular apertures on the metal plate. The structure of antenna array is composed of 2 × 2 four elements. The antenna consists of double layer dielectric, and it realizes circular polarization characteristics by cutting rectangular slot on circular patch in the direction of 45°, by using aperture coupling feeding and reverse feeding principle. There is 90＊ phase difference between adjacent antenna elements. Thus, it cuts off the coupling current field between the elements, suppresses the surface wave and reduces the mutual coupling by cutting four semi-circle annular apertures symmetrically on the metal plate. The simulation results show that after cutting four semi-circle annular apertures, the antenna array coupling coefficients decrease significantly, and the side and back lobe levels are suppressed effectively with the gain of antenna improved. So the proposed method is effective to suppress microstrip antenna array mutual coupling.

Gyro-Chirality Effect of Bianisotropic Substrate on the Resonant Frequency and Half-power Bandwidth of Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna

In this paper,the gyrotropic bi-anisotropy of the chiral medium in substrate constitutive parameters(xc and hc)of a rectangular microstrip patch antenna is introduced in order to observe its effects on the complex resonant frequency and half-power bandwidth.The analysis is based on the full-wave spectral domain approach using the Moment Method,with sinusoidal type basis functions.The numerical calculations related to the dominant mode have been carried out,and it has been observed that the resonant frequency and the bandwidth are directly linked to the medium chirality.The new results can be considered as a generalisation form of the previously published work.

Performance Optimization of Microstrip Antenna with Different Slot Configurations and Various Dielectric Materials

The probe-fed patch antennas were proposed by changing the parameters such as dielectric materials and dimensions of patch for detail investigation of changes in output characteristics. Four rectangular slots were introduced separately for optimizing the antenna design and characteristics. This study illustrated the changes of output characteristics of an antenna with respect to the number of introduced slots on the radiating patch in addition to the effect of various dielectric materials on antenna performances. The antenna performances were analyzed by plotting the observation of various dielectric materials. The changes of antenna characteristics were also observed by introducing four numbers of slots on each edge of the patch to improve radiation characteristics with a wider impedance bandwidth.

Corner Fed Microstrip Antenna Analysisfor Dual Polarization

This paper investigates a corner fed microstrip patch antenna by means of the cavity model with proposed feed modeling. The input impedance and radiation patterns for a corner feed are calculated. The mutual coupling between two corner feeds is investigated. An improvement in mutual coupling has been found for corner feeds relative to edge feeds, which is helpful for the design of dual polarized antenna arrays in wireless communication and radar applications.