Design and Optimization of Conformal Dielectric Resonator Antenna Array Based on Aperture-Coupled Series-Feeding Approach

Abstract

A novel conformal dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) array based on aperture-coupled series-feeding approach is presented for wireless communication. The antenna is composed of eight curved width-gradated DRA elements with a simple feeding structure. The proposed design presents a tapered current amplitude distribution by using DRA element width gradation method, and low side-lobe level (SLL) characteristic can be obtained. Besides, an extra matching line is inserted into the single feeding line to realize better impedance characteristic. To validate the performance of the proposed design, the conformal array is fabricated and measured in an anechoic chamber. The measured impedance bandwidth (|S 11 | < −10 dB) of the fabricated prototype is from 5.78 GHz to 5.87 GHz. At 5.8 GHz, the antenna offers a measured peak gain of 14.75 dBi and SLL of −19.3 dB. The polarization discriminations of the array on Eand H-planes are greater than 20 dB. The measured results of the fabricated prototype demonstrate that the proposed design has the potential to be applied to wireless communication system with curved surface.