Theoretical and experimental investigations on a microstrip-coupled cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna

A microstrip-coupled CDRA excited in the HE118 mode is theoretically and ex perimentally investigated. The antenna is simulated using the finite-elemen t method. The parameters considered are the resonant frequency, return loss , radiation pattern, directivity, unloaded Q-factor, and impedance bandwidt h. The variation of these parameters with the position of the CDRA on the m icrostrip line is presented and discussed. Good agreement between predicted and measured results was obtained for the investigated antenna parameters, establishing the finite-element method as an accurate analysis tool for mi crostrip-coupled CDRAs. Microstrip coupling is efficient, simple, and easy to implement. A further benefit is that, by varying the position of the CDR A with respect to the microstrip line, the radiation characteristics can be altered. This can be a particularly useful feature since the antenna param eters can be tuned to meet design specifications. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Son s, Inc.