A pure dielectric PIFA for WLAN applications

This paper proposes a new type of antenna for receiving WLAN signals. The antenna is similar in structural design to a conventional PIFA but comprises a pure dielectric as the main radiating device. It is conjectured here that this novel antenna provides electromagnetic radiation through displacement currents and yet is quite different to the well-known Dielectric Resonator Antenna. This paper will describe this Pure Dielectric PIFA (PD-PIFA) and provide simulation and measurement results supporting the previous conjecture. The salient feature of this antenna was found to be its ability to resist detuning when biologically loaded; a 1.25% change in resonant frequency was measured when the antenna was placed in a phantom hand.