Planar-type sectored antenna based on slot Yagi-Uda array

The authors present a novel planar-type sectored antenna construction useful for broadband wireless communication systems. The proposed configuration is based on a slot Yagi-Uda array integrated on a dielectric substrate, which is suitable for mass-production at low cost. First, the slot Yagi-Uda array is analysed using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique. In order to obtain the data for the design of the planar-type sectored antenna, the radiation characteristics and return loss of the array are evaluated as a function of the number of directors. Next, based on the results obtained, a 6-sector antenna is designed by employing a 4-element slot Yagi-Uda array, and its performance is investigated with FDTD analysis and experiments. The mutual coupling between the neighbouring sectors is found to be less than -38 dB, and the radiation pattern that can cover the entire azimuth direction with a crossover depth of -3 dB is obtained.