Dual layer stacked rectangular microstrip patch antenna for ultra wideband applications

An antenna consisting of a U-slotted rectangular microstrip patch stacked with another patch of a different size on a separate layer is presented and its performance results are investigated. An equivalent circuit model of this stacked patch design structure is also presented based on an extended cavity model to predict the input impedance. The theoretical input impedance is evaluated from this circuit model and the experimental results support the validity of the model. In this case, stacking with a simple patch adds another resonance to the antenna thus providing a wider bandwidth. The dimension of the top patch is optimised to achieve ultra wide bandwidth. A maximum impedance bandwidth of 56.8% is achieved using this structure, and the return loss |S₁₁|of the antenna is less than -10 dB between 3.06 and 5.49 GHz and the radiation patterns are found to be relatively constant throughout the band. A coaxial feed with Gaussian modulated pulse is used for this antenna.