Modeling of multilayered aperture-coupled planar antennas

Multilayered planar antennas excited by slots are of great practical interest. Researchers like Pozar (1986), Sullivan and Schaubert (1986) and many others, have studied it. The present work is an effort to generalize this structure. The authors present a numerical model which can solve a complete problem including feed lines, slots and patches embedded in a layered medium. Slots and patches can have an arbitrary shape. A new technique used for the computation of the near field pattern above the planar structure is also developed. This technique provides a validation for the entire theory, through comparisons with the measurements. The near field is, in fact, a good representation of the real currents existing in the surface of the structure.