CPW-Fed Cavity-Backed Slot Radiator Loaded With an AMC Reflector

A low profile coplanar waveguide (CPW) fed printed slot antenna is presented with uni-directional radiation properties. The slot antenna radiates above a closely spaced artificial magnetic conducting (AMC) reflector consisting of an array of rectangular patches, a substrate and an electric ground plane. The electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) performance of the cavity structure between the upper conducting surface in which the slot is etched, and the ground plane at the bottom of the reflector, is investigated using an equivalent waveguide feed in the place of a half-wavelength section of the slot antenna. From the reflection coefficient of the equivalent waveguide feed one can determine the frequency band where minimum energy will be lost due to unwanted radiation from the cavity sides. The dimensions of the cavity were found to be very important for minimum energy loss. Experimental results for the final antenna design (with a size of 1.02λ₀×0.82λ₀×0.063λ₀), mounted on a 1.5λ₀×1.5λ₀ back plate, exhibit a 5% impedance bandwidth, maximum gain in excess of 10 dBi, low cross-polarization, and a front-to-back ratio of approximately 25 dB. This low-profile antenna with relatively high gain could be a good candidate for a 2.4 GHz WLAN application.