Novel compact handset antenna

A compact wide-band low-profile antenna is designed with the aid of a genetic algorithm and a finite-difference time-domain code. The wide-band input impedance is obtained with a Structure consisting of two gap-coupled shorted narrow patches. The variables in the optimisation loop are the length of the patches, the position of the probe feed and the shape of the coupling gap. The radiation patterns of the antenna feature a 4 dB front to back ratio and therefore power absorbed in the human head is reduced. The overall antenna is small enough to fit in a modern mobile phone handset case.