Microstrip patch antennas—basic properties and some recent advances

Abstract For high-speed moving vehicles, it is desirable for the antenna to be “low profile”. One of the early low profile antennas is the slot antenna, the theory of which was developed by Professor Henry G. Booker in a classic paper published in 1946. During the last decade and a half, a relatively new class of radiators known as microstrip patch antennas has received much attention. In addition to being low profile and conformable to a shaped surface, these antennas offer the potential advantages of light weight, low cost, ruggedness, and compatibility with integrated circuit technology. The main disadvantages are narrow bandwidth and the problems associated with copper loss and spurious radiation when the elements form an array. This paper begins with a description of the basic features of microstrip patch antennas, followed by a presentation of some of the research aimed at improving the frequency response and gain, particularly those to which the author and his collaborators have made contributions.