Single-feed circularly polarized microstrip ring antenna and arrays

An analysis is presented for a microstrip-feed proximity-coupled ring antenna and a four-element array. Interactions between the embedded microstrip feed and the radiating element(s) are rigorously included. Results demonstrate that circular polarization of both senses can be achieved with a ring antenna with proper design of two inner stubs located at angles of ±45° with respect to the feedline. Theory and experiment demonstrate an axial ratio 3-dB bandwidth of 1% and the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) <2 bandwidth of 6.1%. The axial ratio bandwidth is typical for a microstrip antenna with perturbations, while the VSWR bandwidth is larger than for the circular or rectangular patch with perturbations. A mutual coupling study between two elements shows that the axial ratio is less than 2 dB for interelement spacing greater than 0.55λ_eff, while the VSWR <2 for all spacings considered. A comparison between theory and experiment is provided for a 2×2 element array. The benefits of sequentially rotating the antenna elements in an array environment are presented. The axial ratio and VSWR bandwidths are both increased to 6.1% and 18% for a four-element array. A single-element antenna with two orthogonal feeds to provide both senses of polarization is demonstrated. The ring antenna is small (D/λ₀=0.325), the substrate thickness is thin (H/λ₀~0.035), and the microstrip feed produces a completely planar antenna system, which is compatible with microwave and millimeter integrated circuits (MICs), and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs)