Broadband patch antennas-a SSFIP update

Microstrip antennas provide significant features such as low profile and reduced weight, relatively low manufacturing cost, the potential to group patches in arrays, combined with circuit elements, and polarization diversity. They can be mounted on plane surfaces and can also be slightly bent to conform to smoothly rounded surfaces of an aircraft without significantly affecting the aerodynamic properties. By using thick substrates of very low permittivity dielectric and slot feeds, the bandwidth and operating performance of printed antennas was significantly improved, without the need for a complex fabrication procedure. Developments in the field are reviewed.