A NEW PCB SUBSTRATE USED FOR PATCH ANTENNA FABRICATION

This article describes the modeling, fabrication and analysis of micro strip patch antennas. Extracting material parameters for a new PCB sub strate as well as determining the suitability of his material for of f abrication of patch antennas are described. Microstrip test patterns n l-e used in conjunction with the antennas to facilitate the parameter extraction. Also, procedures for modeling and particularly for produci ng well-matched antennas that resonate close to the design frequency a re presented. These procedures include consideration of the physical c haracteristics of microstrip antennas and their behaviour relative to the given material parameters. The principal antenna modeling tool con sists of microstrip line models implemented in the LIBRA(R) software p ackage. Comparisons are made with and conclusions drawn from a Maxwell equation solver that uses a finite-difference time domain (FDTD) anal ysis. Antennas produced from other materials are also discussed. Anten na fabrications include comparisons between chemically etched antennas and milled antennas produced using a PCB prototyping machine. Efficie ncy of 0.80 is achieved using the new material.