Planar Broadband Slot Radiating Element Based on Microstrip-Slot Coupling for Series-fed Arrays

A novel planar slot radiating element with applications in series-fed arrays and significant bandwidth enhancement is presented in this communication. The structure is based on the microstrip-slotline coupling and simply consists of a microstrip-fed slot with a symmetrically-arranged strip conductor superimposed onto it. The broad impedance bandwidth (up to 16 GHz) lies in the resulting all-pass section that the strip and the slot make up. A theoretical study of the structure in terms of even and odd modes as well as a straightforward equivalent circuit are provided, which offer the required analytical tools to state the design methodology. Experimental and simulated results corroborate that the strip acts as a mere matching element that does not practically alter the slot radiation characteristics.