Bow-tie microstrip antenna analysis and design using the FDTD method

This paper presents the design simulation and measured performance of a coplanar-fed bow-tie antenna for monolithic wireless communication applications. A 3D-FDTD method is used in the design simulation of this planar antenna structure. Numerical and measured results of the antenna radiation characteristics, including return loss and input impedance are presented and compared. A wideband quarter wave balun is used for impedance transformation of the unbalanced coaxial cable feed line to a balanced coplanar microstrip line. The used substrate is FR4 with ε_T=4.8 and thickness of 1.6 mm. Also some investigations are made on the shape of two poles in order to get different characteristics for the antenna.