The influence of metallization thickness on a microstripline-fed patch antenna

In the past, integral-equation modeling techniques such as the spectral-domain electric-field integral equation (EFIE) and the mixed-potential integral equation (MPIE) have been employed to accurately characterize microstrip patch antennas. However, due to an insufficient segmentation scheme for current densities inside a finitely thick microstrip, these methods are limited to an idealized microstrip patch with infinitesimal thickness. In the present paper, the spectral-domain EFIE formulation in conjunction with a suitable current expansion mechanism (first introduced in Becks and Wolff, 1992) for analysis of a microstrip via-holes and air-bridges, is used to evaluate the finite metallization thickness effects. For the first time, very rigorous theoretical results are demonstrated to illustrate the influence of metallization thickness on resonant frequency, reflection coefficient and current distribution of a microstripline-fed patch antenna.<>