This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been

fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/TAP.2018.2863243, IEEE
Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

Compact Wideband Circularly Polarized Microstrip Antenna Array for

45GHz Application

Zheng Gan, Zhi-Hong Tu, Member, IEEE, Ze-Ming Xie, Member, IEEE, Qing-Xin Chu, Senior
Member, IEEE, Yue Yao


[9] was an extension to the work in [8], but the substrate layer is
Abstract—A wideband circularly polarized 4*4 mm-wave antenna reduced through introducing probe feed and the 3-dB AR was greatly
array composed of novel microstrip antenna elements is presented for enhanced through utilizing the CP mode formed by four patches and
IEEE 802.11 aj (45 GHz) application. Through introducing the L-shaped the CP mode formed by the loop-fed structure simultaneously.
branches and truncated corners to the microstrip antenna element, an There have been many kinds of CP antennas without using SRT
impedance bandwidth of 24.9% and a 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth of reported, such as dual-feed CP antennas [10] [11], CP microstrip patch
17.3% are achieved. To clarify the effects of the L-shaped branches and antennas with rotated radiators [12] [13], and cavity backed CP slot
truncated corners, the phase difference and amplitude ratios of the 180
antennas [14]-[16]. A cavity-backed CP ME dipole antenna with a
deg and 90 deg electric field components at the point of (0,0,r) are
extracted and analyzed. A simple and compact microstrip feeding network
3-dB AR bandwidth of 14.65% was presented in [17]. A multilayer
is designed to excite the CP antenna array, and two-layer PCB boards are aperture-coupled CP ME dipole antenna array was studied in [18], the
used to implement the proposed array. The electromagnetic energy is impedance bandwidth and 3-dB axial bandwidth of this work is 18.2%
coupled to the radiators from the feeding network through the aperture and 16.5% respectively. However, some of them suffer from the
etched on the middle ground. The measured 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth of narrow AR bandwidth, and some of them need a complex feed
the antenna array is 16% from 41.9 GHz to 49.1 GHz, and the measured network.
gain is all great than 17 dBic within the band from 41GHz to 49 GHz. In this work, a compact CP microstrip antenna array is presented. A
pair of L-Shaped branches are loaded to the two patches on the
Index Terms—45-GHz, circular polarization (CP), mm-wave diagonal of +45ºto realize CP performance, and the AR bandwidth is
antenna, microstrip feeding network (MFN), microstrp antenna greatly widen through truncating the corners of the other two patches
which is on the diagonal of -45º. Through loading branches and
truncating corners, a wideband CP ME dipole element with 3-dB AR
I. INTRODUCTION bandwidth of 17.3% is achieved. Owing to the wide axial ratio of the
In order to make up for the shortage of low frequency spectrum element, the antenna array can realize wide AR bandwidth with a
resources in wireless communication system, and satisfy the simple and compact microstrip feeding network. To verify the validity
requirement of 5th generation (5G) short-distance high-speed of this work. A 4*4 CP antenna array is designed, fabricated and
communication, it is necessary to exploit the spectrum resource of measured.
millimeter wave band [1] [2]. Circularly polarized (CP) antennas are
very suitable for millimeter-wave system for their advantages of II. ANTENNA DESIGN
multipath effect and polarization mismatch reduction. In this section, the design process of the CP antenna element and
It is well known that, a CP antenna array with a wide axial ratio 4*4 CP antenna array will be introduced. The theory analysis and
bandwidth can be achieved by the sequential rotate technique (SRT) parameter analysis of the proposed antenna will be given. The whole
[3]. A 4×4 SIW (Substrate Integrated Waveguide) CP slot antenna design is analyzed by HFSS microwave studio.
array with LP elements and SIW SRT feed network was proposed in
[4], which achieved the axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 14% and a peak A. CP Antenna Element
gain of 15.9 dBic at 20.6 GHz. In [5] [6], CP elements had narrow AR The configuration of the CP element is exhibited in Fig. 1. As is
bandwidth, the AR bandwidth of the antenna array was broadened by shown in Fig. 1 (a), two-layer PCB substrates are needed. The
using SRT feed network. Many efforts have been done to reduce the substrate1 is Rogers5880 with a thickness of 0.787 mm, and the
size and complexity of the SRT. In [7], a sequential-phase (SP) feed permittivity of 2.2. The substrate2 is Rogers4003 with a thickness of
network using uniform transmission line with only a single-stage 0.203 mm, and the permittivity of 3.55. The top layer of the proposed
transition transmission line of uniform width was designed to reduce antenna element are illustrated in Fig. 1 (b), they are composed of four
the size of the feed network. In [8], a simple and compact CP shorted metallic patches with L-shaped stubs and truncated corners. There are
loop excited by a H-shaped slot was used to feed four corner truncated four metallic posts in the substrate1 which is used to connect the
patches, an AR bandwidth of more than 7% was achieved. The work in patches and the middle ground. The microstrip feed line is on the
bottom of the substrate2, and the electromagnetic energy is coupled to
This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation the patches through the aperture etched on the middle ground. The
of China (grant no. 61471172), the 2016 Guangdong Public Welfare Research detail dimensions of CP element are given in Fig. 1 (b) and (c).
and Capacity Building Project (grant no. 2016A010101010), and the Fig. 2 depicts the currents distribution on the four metallic patches,
Guangzhou Science Technology Project (grant no. 201707010360 and and the currents direction at different time are emphasized by the black
201707010060). thick lines with arrowheads. At time t=0, the vector composition
The authors are with the school of Electronic and Information Engineering, diagram of currents are revealed in Fig. 2 (a). Apparently, the resultant
South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641, China
total current |J0| is equal to 2*|Jtotal1|. At time t=T/4, the vector
(corresponding author e-mail: zhtu@scut.edu.cn).
composition diagram of currents are exhibited in Fig. 2 (b). Obviously,

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This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/TAP.2018.2863243, IEEE
Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

the resultant total current |JT/4| is equal to 2*|Jtotal2|. The resultant total
current at time t=0 and the resultant total currents at time t=T/4 are
orthogonal in space, and there is a 90ºphase difference between them.
The Simulated |S11|, axial ratio and gain are shown in Fig. 3. The
proposed element with L-shaped branches and truncated corners has a
3-dB axial ratio bandwidth of 17.3% from 41.1 GHz to 48.9 GHz and
an impedance bandwidth (|S11| < -10 dB) of 24.9% from 39.2 GHz to
50.4 GHz. The vector decomposition of electric field are shown in Fig.
4. The Etotal is the total electric field at the point of (0,0,r) (r>>λ), the
Ephi is the 180 deg electric field component with the angular
directions of theta=180 deg and phi=90 deg. And the Etheta is the 90
deg electric field component with the angular directions of theta=90
deg and phi=90 deg.

Fig. 3 Simulated results of proposed CP element.

(a)

Fig. 4 The vector decomposition diagram of electric field.

(b) (c) To clarify the effects of the L-shaped stubs and truncated corners in
Fig. 1 Configuration of the CP element. (a) The layer graph of the geometry of the formation of circular polarization, the phase differences and
the element. (b) Top layer (L1=1.4mm, L2=1.5mm, S1=S2=1.1mm, amplitude ratio between Ephi and Etheta are extracted and analyzed in
G1=G2=0.3mm, P1=0.4mm, P3=0.3mm, P2=0.9mm, T1=T2=0.9mm). (c) Fig. 5. Fig. 5 shows that when T1=T2=0, the amplitude ratios between
Bottom layer (Ls=2.6mm, Ws=0.2mm, Lt=0.45mm, Wf=0.45mm). Ephi and Etheta are all greater than 1.2, and phase differences between
them are within the range of 90º±10º within the band of
41GHz-49GHz. With the gradual increase of T1 and T2, the amplitude
ratio is on the decline, and the phase difference is almost unchanged.
When T1=T2=0.9 mm, the amplitude ratio is within the range of 1±0.1,
which satisfies the equal amplitude condition of circular polarization.
So, the L-shaped branches are used to maintain the 90º phase
differences between Ephi and Etheta, and the truncated corners are
used to control the amplitude ratios between the two orthogonal
electric fields.
(a) B. CP Antenna Array
Based on the CP antenna element, a 4*4 CP antenna array is
designed. Geometry of the antenna array is shown in Fig. 6, the array is
fabricated on two-layer dielectric substrates. There are 16 identical CP
radiation elements on the top of the substrate1, the distance between
the two adjacent elements in X axial direction is a1 and in Y axial
direction is a2. The microstrip power divider feed network is located at
the bottom of the substrate2. To implement the feed network in a
limited space, a Z-shaped meander line is introduced into the MFN, as
shown in Fig.6 (a). Since the element of the CP antenna array has a
(b) wide AR bandwidth, the antenna array can achieve wide axial ratio
Fig. 2 The distribution of currents on the patches at different time. (a) Currents without the sequential-phase feed network. Due to the compact of the
distribution on the four metallic patches at time t=0. (b) Currents distribution on MFN, the size of the array is compact too. The length, width, and
the four metallic patches at time t=T/4. height of the antenna array are 35mm, 35mm, and 0.99mm
respectively. The prototype of the 4*4 CP antenna array is fabricated

0018-926X (c) 2018 IEEE. Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission. See http://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/publications/rights/index.html for more information.
This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/TAP.2018.2863243, IEEE
Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

and measured. Picture of the prototype is exhibited in Fig. 6 (b), and TABLE I
the simulated and measured results of the antenna array will be given COMPARISON BETWEEN PROPOSED AND REPORTED CP ANTENNA ARRAY
in section III. This work is compared with other works in references, Imp.
No. of
the comparison measured results are depicted in TABLE I. BW Peak Gain
Array type AR BW layers/e
(|S11| < (dBic)
(3 dB) lements
-10 dB)
Patch antenna
[9] (sequential 18% 12.7% ≈12 1/2*2
rotation)

Patch antenna
≈25.5% 22.8% 12.35 1/2*2
[11] (Dual-feed)

≈5.5% ≈3.9% 13.09

Patch antenna
(LHCP) (LHCP) (LHCP)
(rotated 3/1*8
[13] ≈6.1% ≈4.6% 13.52
patch)
(RHCP) (RHCP) (RHCP)
ME dipole
antenna 18.2% 16.5% 26.1 3/8*8
[18]
(SIW-fed)
Microstrip
This
antenna >24.4% 16% 18.8 2/4*4
work
(MFN-fed)
(a)

(a)

(b)
Fig. 5 Phase differences and Amplitude ratios between Ephi and Etheta. (a)
Phase differences with different T1 and T2 (P1=0.4mm, P2=0.9mm). (b)
Amplitude ratios with different T1 and T2 (P1=0.4mm, P2=0.9mm).
(b)
Fig. 6 Configuration of the CP antenna array. (a) Photograph of the fabricated
CP antenna array. (b) Top layer and bottom layer (a1=4.9mm, a2=5mm,
III. FABRICATION AND MEASUREMENT RESULTS S=0.6mm, W=35mm, L=35mm).
To verify the proposed design, a prototype of the 4*4 CP antenna
array is fabricated. Referring to the processing method of multilayer
slot-coupled antenna array presented in [19], [20] and [21], the
substrate1 (Rogers 5880 with a thickness of 0.787mm) and substrate2
(Rogers 4003 with a thickness of 0.203mm) are connected by a few
screws. To minimize the undesired influences, the screws are made of
plastic materials. The microstrip feeding network is excited by the
Southwest Microwave’s high performance end launch connector
(50GHz).
A. Impedance Bandwidth
The simulated and measured |S11| of the proposed CP antenna array
is illustrated in Fig. 7. Within the frequency band 39-50 GHz, the
simulated and measured |S11| are all below -10 dB. Due to the existence
of the air gap between the two substrates, the measured curve is
elevated comparing with the simulated one. However, in practical
applications, the possible air gap can be avoided by adding bonding Fig. 7 Simulated and measured reflection coefficient of the proposed antenna
film between the two substrates. array.

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This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/TAP.2018.2863243, IEEE
Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

B. Radiation Performance (from 41.9 GHz to 49.1 GHz) without using SRT and the impedance
Simulated and measured axial ratios are depicted in Fig.8 (a). The bandwidth is greater than 24.4%. As a result, the demission of the
measured 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth is 7.2 GHz (41.9 GHz to 49.1 feeding network and the antenna array are reduced. The fabricated 4*4
GHz), it covers the band of IEEE 802.11 aj (42.3 GHz-48.4 GHz). The CP antenna array has a high gain performance, the measured gain is all
measured and simulated gains are illustrated in Fig. 8 (b), the great than 17 dBic within the band of 41GHz to 49 GHz, so the
measured gain is up to 18.85 dBic, and the gain is all great than 17 proposed CP antenna array would be an attractive candidate for
dBic within the band of 41GHz to 49 GHz. The metallic loss, and 45GHz mm-wave applications.
existence of air gap give rise to the reduction of the measured gain
comparing with the simulated one. In addition, the measurement yoz plane xoz plane
system uses the LP auxiliary horn antenna to measure at four different
angles, it also brings the error of the AR.
The radiation patterns of the proposed CP antenna array are
exhibited in Fig. 9, the red dotted line stands for the simulated
radiation pattern and the black solid line represents the measured
results. Due to the restriction of the test condition of our laboratory, we
are just able to obtain the radiation pattern within the angle range of ±
40º. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement with
each other. (a)

yoz plane xoz plane

Axial Ratio, Sim.

Axial Ratio, Mea.

(b)

yoz plane xoz plane

(a)

(c)
Mea. Co-pol Mea. X-pol
Sim. Co-pol Sim. X-pol
Fig. 9 Simulated and measured radiation pattern of the proposed CP antenna
array at (a) 42.5 GHz, (b) 45.5 GHz, and (c) 48.5 GHz.
Gain, Sim.
Gain, Mea.
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This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/TAP.2018.2863243, IEEE
Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

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