Planar-type sectored antenna based on slot Yagi-Uda array

The authors present a novel planar-type sectored antenna construction useful for broadband wireless communication systems. The proposed configuration is based on a slot Yagi–Uda array integrated on a dielectric substrate, which is suitable for mass-production at low cost. First, the slot Yagi–Uda array is analysed using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique. In order to obtain the data for the design of the planar-type sectored antenna, the radiation characteristics and return loss of the array are evaluated as a function of the number of directors. Next, based on the results obtained, a 6-sector antenna is designed by employing a 4-element slot Yagi–Uda array, and its performance is investigated with FDTD analysis and experiments. The mutual coupling between the neighbouring sectors is found to be less than –38 dB, and the radiation pattern that can cover the entire azimuth direction with a crossover depth of –3 dB is obtained.