Low-profile patch-fed surface wave antenna with a monopole-like radiation pattern

A novel patch-fed surface wave antenna (PFSWA) that realises a monopole-like radiation pattern with an attractive low-profile configuration is presented. The surface wave antenna consists of a thin grounded dielectric slab loaded with periodic square patches, which is designed to support the propagation of surface waves, and a centre-fed circular patch, which is used to excite the surface waves. The diffraction of surface waves at the edge of the ground plane generates a monopole-like radiation pattern (both in pattern shape and polarisation state). The radiation mechanism and performance of the PFSWA are described, and parametric studies are performed to understand the radiation characteristics of the PFSWA. An antenna prototype with only 3 mm thickness (<0.05lambda) is fabricated and tested, which resonates at 4.74 GHz with a 5.6% impedance bandwidth and a 5.6 dBi gain. The low-profile PFSWA has a great potential for modern wireless communications such as vehicle radio system