Diversity dual‐band planar inverted‐F antenna for WLAN operation

A printed diversity dual‐band planar inverted‐F antenna (PIFA) mounted vertically at the edge of a PCMCIA network card (such that the protruded portion of the network card from the housing of the laptop has a minimum length) for WLAN operation in the 2.4‐GHz band (2400–2484 MHz) and 5.2‐GHz band (5150–5350 MHz) is presented. The diversity antenna studied comprises two back‐to‐back stacked PIFAs and has a low profile of 10 mm to the network card. Across the two operating bands, the measured reflection coefficient S 11 and isolation S 21 are all less than −14 dB (1.5:1 VSWR) and −24 dB, respectively. In addition, the measured radiation patterns of the two stacked PIFAs in general cover complementary space regions, thereby making it possible for providing spatial diversity for WLAN operation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 38: 223–225, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11020