A study of conformal microstrip antennas

A method of analyzing the radiation properties of conformal microstrip patch antennas is presented. The technique utilizes the uniform theory of diffraction (UTD) in conjunction with the cavity model theory of microstrip antennas. The structures under consideration are composed of patch antennas which are mounted upon finitely dimensioned conducting bodies or surfaces. Emphasis is on the efficient evaluation of radiated fields and the application of the analysis to a variety of canonically shaped bodies including truncated cones, cylinders, and plates. Using this procedure, the diffractive effects of finite, microstrip antenna ground planes have been examined in the study of circularly polarized path antennas. It has been determined that appropriate selection of ground plane dimensions can appreciably reduce the spatial variation of axial ratio and tilt angle.<>