Numerical analysis of ground plane size effects on patch array antenna characteristics for mobile satellite communications

Abstract

In this research, a patch array antenna for mobile satellite communications aiming at ETS-VIII applications has been developed. The ground plane size effects on the antenna characteristics were investigated. Finite and infinite ground planes were analysed by the finite integration technique (FIT) for time domain analysis, the finite element method (FEM) and the method of moments (MoM) for spectral domain analysis. Then measurements of the fabricated antenna were performed to confirm the analysis results. It is clear that the frequency characteristics of the axial ratio are influenced by the variation in the ground plane size. When the ground plane size is increased, the edge-diffracted field causes tilting of the beam in the direction of low elevation angles and causes a decrease in the maximum gain and in the 3 dB-beamwidth of axial ratio in the elevation plane. In the conical-cut direction, an increase in ground plane size induces a decrease in the 3 dB-beamwidth of axial ratio for FEM, but shows the opposite result for FIT and measurement. In addition, an increase in ground plane size also induces increases in maximum gain and its 6 dBic-beamwidth along with a shift in the maximum gain in the direction of low azimuth angle. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.