Performance restoration of dielectric embedded antennas using omega like complementary split ring resonators

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis research work addresses the performance deterioration challenges of dielectric embedded patch antenna. Antennas installed on the surface of high speed aerial vehicles are usually surrounded by dielectric coating to cater for the environmental effects like friction and humidity, the presence of dielectric in the surrounding encourages the propagation of strong surface waves causing the pattern deterioration and increase in return loss. The surface waves are suppressed in two stages first with the help of substrate integrated waveguide cavity created on the back of patch antenna to reduce the leakage currents. Secondly the remaining surface waves which propagate in the dielectric are suppressed by simply placing an array of modified complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) on the surface of surrounding dielectric. CSRR is known to offer band‐gap characteristics thus it ensures complete blockage of the fundamental mode of surface waves without any additional fabrication complexity. The radiation pattern is restored and the return loss is reduced using the proposed techniques. The measured results from the fabricated prototype authenticate the proposed concept. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 59:357–362, 2017