Low profile dual-band-balanced handset antenna with dual-arm structure for WLAN application

In this study, a low profile and dual-band-balanced antenna for mobile handset applications, covering the 2.4 and 5 GHz WLAN frequency bands, is investigated and discussed. The antenna is a thin-strip planar dipole, with folded structure, and a dual-arm on each half of the dipole. The performance of the proposed antenna has been analysed and optimised for the two targeted frequency bands. For validation purposes, an antenna prototype was fabricated and tested. The prototype performance is characterised in terms of the antenna reflection coefficient, radiation pattern, power gain and surface current distribution. The predicted and measured results show relatively good agreement, and confirm good impedance bandwidth characteristics and excellent dual-band performance. In addition, the antenna radiation performance is investigated when the antenna is placed in several locations on the human body, using a hybrid computational electromagnetics technique.