Size reduction of microstrip antennas using metamaterials

In this paper we present the design of a novel compact microstrip patch antenna (MPA) whose size is reduced via the use of metamaterials. The MPA is loaded with a miniaturized multilayered left-handed (LH) transmission line that increases the effective wavelength of the antenna, and thus lowers the resonant frequency of the radiating mode. This, in turn, leads to a substantial reduction in its size as compared to the conventional half-wavelength (λ/2) MPA. With an impedance bandwidth of around 3%, the performance of the loaded MPA is similar to that of λ/2 MPA.