Extending the Bandwidth of an Elliptical Monopole Antenna (.PDF Download)

Wide-bandwidth antennas represent a more compact alternative to the use of multiple antennas to cover the same bandwidth. Numerous design approaches are available for achieving wide antenna bandwidth, including an elliptical monopole antenna developed by the authors. It consists of an elliptical patch fed by coplanar-waveguide (CPW) transmission line and matched to 50 Ω for wideband operation. The antenna was developed through comprehensive parametric studies and the design aid of the three-dimensional (3D) electromagnetic (EM) simulation software CST Microwave Studio from Computer Simulation Technology.

In a radio system, an antenna sends and detects electromagnetic (EM) waves and is considered one of the more important components in a wireless communications system.¹ Numerous configurations are available for RF/microwave applications. One option, a planar monopole antenna, is a good candidate for wireless communication services because of its wide impedance bandwidth, omnidirectional radiation pattern, high radiation efficiency, and compact size.^2,3

By designing a single antenna that can cover a large bandwidth, it can be used for various applications.^4,5 A monopole antenna is one-half of a dipole antenna, almost always mounted above some sort of ground plane. Among the range of broadband monopole configurations that have been developed are circular, square, elliptical, pentagonal, and hexagonal forms (Fig. 1), which can easily be integrated into RF/microwave circuits as well as ultrawideband (UWB) devices.^6-8