Abstract :
The feasibility of using a thick ground plane with an aperture coupled microstrip patch antenna while maintaining reasonable antenna performance is demonstrated using moment method and reciprocity analyses in the spectral domain. The thick ground plane, which may serve as a heatsink for active MMIC circuitry, or as a mechanical support for thin substrates, is particularly advantageous in millimetre wave phased array applications. It is found that the effect of ground plane thickness is to reduce the level of coupling from the feed line to the patch
Keywords :
MMIC; antenna feeders; antenna phased arrays; antenna theory; microstrip antennas; microwave antenna arrays; active MMIC circuitry; antenna performance; aperture coupled microstrip patch antenna; feed line; heatsink; mechanical support; millimetre wave phased array applications; moment method; reciprocity analyses; spectral domain; thick ground plane;
