CP‐microstrip coplanar patch antenna for satellite reception

A design of a broadband circularly polarized coplanar‐square‐patch antenna, CSPA, for Iridium satellite reception via handset is proposed and experimentally studied. With the introduction of some asymmetry in the structure to a single‐feed coplanar‐sqaure‐patch microstrip antenna, it is possible to excite two orthogonal degenerate resonant modes for circular polarization (CP) radiation. Experimental results of constructed prototypes show that the obtained 3‐dB axial‐ratio bandwidths can reach as large as 8.5%. The proposed antenna has a peak antenna gain of about 4.2 dBi, with efficiency 85% for frequencies within the CP. Some prototypes of the proposed CP design CSPA antennas have been implemented and experimental results are presented and discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 372–375, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23071