Crescent Shape Microstrip Antenna for Dual polarized Multi-band Response

Brazilian Microwave and Optoelectronics Society-SBMO received 07 July 2018; for review 30 Aug 2018; accepted 03 Dec 2018 Brazilian Society of Electromagnetism-SBMag © 2019 SBMO/SBMag ISSN 2179-1074 Abstract— Novel design of multi-band Crescent shape microstrip antenna is proposed. Modifications in equivalent circular patch yields new resonant modes nearer to the TM11 and TM21 modes in circular patch that gives four band frequency response showing dual polarizations. Proposed design gives 1 to 1.5% of bandwidth at each frequency with broadside radiation pattern. The resonance frequency equation by defining the resonant length at each mode in the Crescent shape patch, is proposed. The frequency calculated using the same agrees closely with simulated result. The air suspended design of crescent shape patch is presented which yields co-polar peak gain of above 1.5 dBi.


I. INTRODUCTION
Multi-band antennas are needed in applications where signal trans-reception is carried out at closely spaced frequencies [1].While using antenna variations like, dipole, helical, loop or horn, multiple antennas are required which caters to each of the frequency bands [1].This increases the system cost.
In this aspect microstrip antenna (MSA) offers design simplicity and flexibility where single radiating element with suitable modifications can cater to multiple frequencies [2], [3].In MSAs different radiating patch shapes like rectangular/square, circular, equilateral triangular and compact variations like, ring and semi-circular shape, have been used [1]- [3].Using these radiating shapes, with reference to their fundamental and higher order modes, multi-band response can be realized however pattern characteristics are not identical across each mode.For similar patterns, multi-band MSAs have been realized either by cutting a slot in the patch or by placing stub on patch edges or by using multiple patches in the same configuration which caters to different frequency bands [3]- [10].The slot cut method is preferred since it does not increase the patch size (as observed in stub loaded MSA) neither it requires active (diode) or passive (capacitor) elements that along with their biasing circuit helps in selecting different frequency bands.The dual or multi-band response is realized with reference to fundamental patch mode and to have same polarization, mode introduced by slot offers similar radiation characteristics to that given by fundamental patch mode [3]- [10].To realize multiband response stacked configuration using regular patch shapes or fractal patches or genetic algorithm Crescent Shape Microstrip Antenna for Dual polarized Multi-band Response Amit A. Deshmukh 1 and Priyanka Verma 2 optimized patch antenna have been reported [11]- [13].The dual polarization will be obtained when mode due to slot is orthogonal to patch mode [3], [4], [7].Multiband and dual-polarized antennas are attractive for mobile communications applications [14].Along with regular shapes, modified patch shapes like Spanner shape antenna, modified rectangular ring shape antenna loaded with semi-circular patch have been used for achieving wideband or dual band characteristics [15], [16].However, in [15], [16] detailed study to explain effects of modifications in patch shapes on frequency and impedance, for achieving reported antenna characteristics is not given.Using a Crescent shape patch, ultra-wide band and dual band response is obtained [17]- [19].However, in the literature explanation for the resonant modes in Crescent shape patch and resonance frequency formulation for the same is not given.
In this paper, novel design of Crescent shape MSA embedded with rectangular slot is presented for multi-band dual polarized response.A glass epoxy substrate (r = 4.3, h = 0.16 cm, tan  = 0.02) is selected in the present study.The Crescent shape patch is derived from circular MSA (CMSA) by embedding circular slot on the periphery of CMSA.The excited resonant modes of Crescent shape patch were studied.MSA offers new resonant modes those lies nearer to the fundamental TM11 and second order TM21 modes of equivalent CMSA.The frequency tuning in new modes is obtained by changing the circular slot radius.With reference to the given feed position, modal currents on the patch exhibits integer multiples of half wavelength variations at fundamental and higher order resonant modes.By studying modal current variations, resonant length formulation at fundamental and higher order modes of Crescent shape patch is presented.Frequency calculated using the same agrees closely with simulated results at every mode.With an impedance matching at first three modes, triple band response is obtained in Crescent shape MSA.It gives simulated and measured frequencies of 576, 920 and 1250 MHz with VSWR BW of 1 to 1.5%.Triple band MSA offers broadside radiation pattern across three frequencies with dual polarization, i.e.E-plane is directed along  = 90 0 at first and third mode and along 0 0 , at second mode.Further a design of Crescent shape MSA with rectangular slot is proposed.Slot controls the input impedance at first resonant mode and along with fourth resonant mode, four band frequency response is obtained.At each of the frequency, antenna offers 1 to 1.5% of VSWR BW.MSA offers broadside pattern with dual polarization at alternate frequencies.Using proposed formulations, procedure to design Crescent shape MSA at given fundamental mode frequency is also presented.To increase the antenna gain, air suspended design of Crescent shape MSA is presented which yields broadside gain of 1.5 to 5 dBi across four frequencies.
In the proposed work, although widely reported slot cut techniques are used, but a new configuration of Crescent shape MSA is discussed with relevant resonant mode explanation and their formulation.
Similar detailed study for Crescent shape MSA is not reported.Further its variants for multi-band dual polarized response are presented.They offer either triple or four band response with dual polarizations at consecutive modes.Antenna designs proposed were first studied using IE3D software followed by measurements using high frequency instruments like, ZVH -8, FSC -6 and SMB -100A.

II. CRESCENT SHAPE MSA
A Crescent shape MSA is shown in Fig. 1(a).In equivalent CMSA, patch radius 'r' is calculated for TM11 mode frequency of 950 MHz, and it is found to be 4.5 cm.CMSA when simulated for 'xf' = 2.5 and 'yf' = 2.5 cm, yields fTM11 = 936 MHz and fTM21 = 1564 MHz.On the perimeter of this CMSA circular slot of radius 'rs' is cut, that realizes Crescent shape MSA.To study its resonant mode behaviour, patch is simulated for increasing 'rs' and its resonance curve plots and surface current distribution at observed resonant modes for 'rs' = 3.0 cm is shown in Figs.1(b) & 2(ac).With increase in 'rs', three resonant modes (f1, f2 and f3) are observed whose frequencies reduce with slot radius.At three resonant modes, currents exhibit integer multiples of half wavelength variations along patch perimeter and inside the patch.Hence these modes are referred at as TMm0.
Here index 'm' is for the variation along patch perimeter and it equals 1, 2, 3… i.e. integer number of half wavelength variations.The '+' and '-' sign in current plots indicate the field polarity.The second index is for the variation along modified patch radius.Here it is taken equal to zero, as resonant mode frequencies for radial field variation will be present at higher frequency values than that of fundamental (TM10) and few of the higher order resonant mode (TM20, TM30, …) frequencies.
The surface current distribution at second mode (TM20) is similar to the modified TM11 mode of equivalent CMSA.At first (TM10) mode, maximum of currents is aligned along vertical direction, hence E-plane is directed along  = 90 0 .With reference to directions of current maxima at second (TM20) and third (TM30) mode, E-plane is directed along  = 0 0 and 90 0 , respectively.Thus, with reference to first three modes, antenna will offer dual polarization.Resonance curve plots for 'rs' = 3.0 cm and for varying feed positions are shown in Fig. 1(c).With increase in x-coordinate of the feed, impedance at TM10 and TM30 modes reduces as feed is placed nearer to its minimum field point.
However, impedance at TM20 mode increases.With increase in 'xf' additional resonant mode at frequency of around 1500 MHz is observed.At this mode, since surface currents shows four half wavelength variations along patch perimeter, excited mode is referred to as TM40, as shown in Fig. 2(d).This modal distribution is similar to TM21 mode of CMSA.

III. RESONANT LENGTH FORMULATION FOR CRESCENT SHAPE MSA
Further by studying surface current distributions at various modes, formulation in resonant length is proposed for the new structure.At TM10 mode, effective patch width as seen by modal currents reduces with slot radius.This reduction in width (we) will affect the effective dielectric constant (re) as seen by currents, as given in ( 1) and ( 2).The units for patch dimensions mentioned in equation are in cm.Surface currents at TM10 mode were seen to be circulating around slot perimeter and hence formulation in its resonant length is obtained by using (3).The frequency as calculated using (4), agrees closely with the simulated frequency, obtained using IE3D as shown in Fig. 3(a).Here the frequency as calculated using ( 4) is in GHz.
( ) re ε e 2l 30 r f = (4) At TM20 mode, currents show two half wavelength variations along patch perimeter.The effective patch width as seen by modal currents reduces with 'rs'.The modified width and effective dielectric constant are calculated by using (1) and (2).As TM20 mode is similar in distribution to TM11 mode in CMSA, resonance frequency equation for its TM11 mode is used here.The effective patch radius at this mode which includes the effect of slot radius is formulated by using (5).The frequency as calculated using (6) for kmn = 1.84118, in 'GHz', matches closely with the simulated frequency as shown in Fig. 3(b).
At TM30 mode, as currents exhibits three half wavelength variations along outer and inner circular patch perimeter (outer patch circle and inner slot circle) resonant length is calculated by using (7).
Here average of these two lengths is considered.However, it was observed that effective resonant length lies more closer to the inner circular slot radius hence factor of 2.4 is considered in (7).The effective dielectric constant is calculated by using ( 1) and ( 8).The resonance frequency at TM30 mode is calculated by using (9).The frequency as calculated matches closely with the simulated frequency as shown in Fig. 3(c).
( ) The surface currents at TM40 mode are similar to the TM21 mode of equivalent CMSA.The effective patch radius here is calculated by modifying it with fractional perimeter length of circular slot as given in (5).As width seen by modal surface currents is reduced with slot radius, effective width for currents and effective dielectric constant are calculated by using ( 1) and ( 2).The frequency for TM40 mode is calculated by using ( 6) for kmn = 3.05424.It agrees closely with simulated result for different slot radius as shown in Fig. 3(d).Thus, above proposed formulation gives resonant length and frequency formulation for new Crescent shape geometry at fundamental and few of the higher order modes which matches within 5% with the simulations.As seen from the resonance curve plots shown in Fig. 1(c), with increase in x-coordinate of the feed location, TM40 mode appears in resonance curve but impedance at TM10 and TM30 mode reduces.
Thus, to achieve four band frequency response impedance at first and third modes needs to be controlled so as to realize VSWR less than 2 at all the four frequencies.The impedance at TM10 and TM30 modes is increased by cutting a slot which is orthogonal to their modal surface currents as shown in Fig. 4(c).The slot being orthogonal to these currents reduces TM10 and TM30 mode frequencies and also increases the impedance at them as shown in Fig. 4 The radiation pattern at four frequencies is shown in Fig. 5(c, d) and 6(af).The pattern at all the frequencies shows radiation in the broadside direction.The E-plane is directed along  = 90 0 at first and third frequency whereas at second and fourth frequency, E-plane is directed along  = 0 0 .Since MSA is optimized on finite square ground plane of side length 13 cm, larger back-lobe radiation is observed.The finite ground plane is chosen here as in the practical systems larger size of the ground plane will not be available.Thus, proposed design yields broadside dual polarized multi-band frequency response at consecutive resonant modes.
V. DESIGN OF MULTI-BAND CRESCENT SHAPE MSA Using proposed resonant length formulations at each mode, procedure to design multi-band slot cut Crescent shape MSA is discussed here.First resonant length formulation at modified patch modes that accounts for the effects of rectangular slot to give four band dual polarized response is presented.The slot length 'ls' only reduces the resonance frequencies of TM10 and TM30 modes as surface currents at them are orthogonal to the slot length.At TM20 (equivalent TM11) and TM40 (equivalent TM21) modes, minor perturbations in length of the surface currents is observed which is due to slot width 'ws'.Thus, resonant length formulations at each mode is realized by using following equations.While formulating every equation, variation in modal frequency and surface currents have been studied to arrive at final expression.
At TM10 mode, TM20 mode, 8 s w 2.9 Using (4) resonance frequency of TM10 mode is calculated whereas (6) gives frequency of TM20 (equivalent TM11) mode with kmn = 1.84118 and frequency of TM40 (equivalent TM21) for kmn = 3.05424.Frequency of TM30 mode is calculated by using ( 8) and (9).At all the resonant modes, frequencies calculated using proposed formulations agrees closely with the simulated frequencies against slot length variation.Using these formulations, procedure to design multi-band Crescent shape MSA is explained.In Crescent shape MSA, slot radius 'rs' decides the fundamental mode (TM10) frequency for the given circular patch radius.As discussed in the formulation above, with increase in slot radius, effective patch width reduces that decreases effective dielectric constant.Thus, for designing Crescent shape MSA at given fundamental mode frequency, more than two unknowns are present, they are 're', 'r' and 'rs'.The knowledge of variation in 're' against 'rs' is essential.Hence while designing Crescent shape patch, plot of variation in 're' against 'rs/ r' is used for the given substrate.The radius ratio is selected since this fractional number governs TM10 mode frequency as well as effective patch width.For the FR4 substrate, this plot is shown in Fig. 7(a).This plot is generated with reference to Crescent shape MSA discussed above in triple band configuration.For designing Crescent shape MSA for given TM10 frequency, radius ratio is selected first.The design is presented for fTM10 = 1000 MHz.The ratio 'rs/r' is selected to be 0.6 for which 're' is found to be 2.4.
Using ( 3) and ( 4), for fTM10 = 1000 MHz frequency on FR4 substrate, 'rs' is calculated to be 1.55 cm that gives 'r' as 2.55 cm.For these radius, calculated TM20, TM30 and TM40 mode frequencies using ( 4), ( 6) and ( 9  The above variations of Crescent shape MSA were studied using glass epoxy substrate, hence they have lower gain.To increase the gain, its suspended variation is designed.Here patch is fabricated on glass epoxy substrate which is suspended above the ground plane using an air gap of 0.16 cm.The effective dielectric constant (re) of suspended configuration is calculated by using ( 14) and patch radius for TM11 mode frequency of around 850 MHz is calculated using (15).
( ) Here, h1 and h2 are thickness for air and glass epoxy substrate, which equals to 0.16 cm.The r1 is dielectric constant of air and r2 is the dielectric constant of glass epoxy substrate.The detailed parametric study for variations in slot radius, horizontal slot length for optimizing four band frequency response was carried out.However, it was noted that with additional rectangular slot as used in Crescent MSA shown in Fig. 3(c), impedance matching at four resonant modes was not realized.In suspended patch, loss tangent of the configuration reduces, which affects the variations in

Fig. 4 (
Fig. 4 (a) Return loss plots and (b) fabricated prototype for triple band Crescent shape MSA, (c) slot cut Crescent shape MSA and its (d) resonance curve plots for increasing slot length (d).Slot is parallel to surface currents at TM20 and TM40 modes, hence their frequencies and impedance remains unchanged.Thus, rectangular slot realizes tuning of impedance and frequencies of first four resonant modes of Crescent shape MSA to realize four band frequency response.For rs = 2.7, ls = 1.8, xf = 3.8 and yf = 1.9 cm, optimum response is shown in Fig.5(a).In four band MSA, simulated frequencies and their respective BW's are 486, 922, 1154 and 1562 MHz and 6, 16, 17 and 19 MHz.The antenna was fabricated and the experiment was carried out.The measured frequencies and respective BW's are 470, 895, 1123 and 1530 MHz and 7, 16, 18 and 19 MHz.The fabricated prototype of the antenna is shown in Fig. 5(b).

Fig. 5 (
Fig. 5 (a) Return loss plots and (b) fabricated prototype for slot cut Crescent shape MSA, and its (c, d) radiation pattern at first frequency (fTM10) Fig. 7(c).The simulated values of center frequencies of each band and their BW are, 875, 1613, 2042, 2763 and 13, 26, 32, 53 MHz, respectively.Measured values of frequency and BW are, 860, 1590, 2022, 2748 and 14, 25, 30, 50 MHz, respectively.The center frequency of BW in S11 plot differs fromthe frequencies observed in their resonance curve due to the probe inductance.Thus, proposed formulations can be used to design multi-band Crescent shape MSA for given slot radius.Similarly design of Crescent shape MSA can be implemented using proposed formulations for different radius ratio as well as at different fundamental mode frequency.