Estimation and Utilization of Ground Effects on Conformal Dielectric Resonator Antennas

Abstract

Ground effects on arc-shaped conformal dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) working in the TE z 11δ mode are investigated and utilized to attain various radiation performances. Manipulation of directivity patterns are achieved with the help of the three-dimensional curved metal ground. The backlobe, beamwidth, broadside gain, backscattering, and cross-polarization level of the antenna are all readily controllable. The geometric theory of diffraction is applied to provide an intuitional explanation for the radiation changes. Detailed analysis is then conducted from the perspective of ground current. It is found that the current distribution is affected by configurations of both the arc DRA and ground plane. Based on this, analytical methods are developed to calculate the ground effects exclusively for conformal arc-shaped DRAs. Next, the design theory of arc DRAs with curved ground is proposed. To demonstrate it, two conformal DRAs owning directional and wide beams, respectively, are designed as paradigms. At last, a prototype is fabricated and measured for validation. INDEX TERMS Conformal antennas, dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs), ground effects, radiation patterns.

Wristwatch-Style Wearable Dielectric Resonator Antennas for Applications on Limps

“…Modification II is introduced to confine the ground current [33]. The edge and surface diffraction [22] from the curving substrate is thus suppressed. The backward radiation is significantly decreased, as shown in Fig.…”

“…However, similar studies on conformal DRAs are insufficient. In [22], ground effects on a linearly-polarized DRA operating in its TE z 11δ mode were studied. Due to the 90 • -rotational asymmetry of the arc-shaped structure, the other basic mode, TM z 11δ mode, [16] is expected to be affected in a different way.…”

Wide‐beam bent cross‐shaped DRA antenna for wide‐angle beam‐scanning phased array

“…Recently, it is demonstrated in ref. [17] that wide half-power beamwidth (HPBW) can be obtained when bending the DRA, which can be beneficial for designing wide-angle scanning phased arrays.…”

Beam widening of rectangular dielectric resonator antenna using anisotropic materials

“…In another work, 16 by simultaneous excitation of two high‐order modes and combining their radiation patterns, a unilateral pattern with a large HPBW has been obtained. In addition, in Reference 17, by using the conformal ground plane, the HPBW of the antenna is increased.…”