A Novel Circularly Polarized Fractal Microstrip Antenna

Farrokh Hojjat-Kashani
1
, Nader Komjani
1
, Javad Ghalibafan
1
, and Siroos Bahrami
1
1
College of Electrical Engineering Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract In this paper, we propose a novel fractal-
shaped microstrip antenna. A square generator is used to
construct this fractal configuration. Based on iterative
processes, multiband spectrum performance is achieved.
On the other hand, in the present fractal antenna, an
L-probe, known as a broadband electromagnetic coupling
probe, is used for feeding. Hence, matching between the feed
system and the radiating system in a wide frequency range
is easy. Also, the perturbation is set at an appropriate
location in the patch element to excite circular polarization
radiation.
Index Terms Circular polarization, dualband
antennas, fractal antennas, L-shape feed system, microstrip
antennas.
I. INTRODUCTION
The recent explosion in the mobile communication
market has forced stricter requirement for mobile
terminal antennas. The terminals for 3G must be
compatible with 2G system. The growing of wireless
local area network WLAN and Bluetooth system has
already demanded specific attention. Therefore a new
terminal antenna should support a multisystem operation.
Using this multi system in one antenna it will reduce the
complication of system.
Printed circuit antenna or microstrip antenna are
desired in many instances due to space constrains in the
modern electronic devices. In conventional microstrip
patch antennas, dual band or multifrequency operation
can be obtained by employing multiple radiating elements
or tuning devices such as varactor diode [1]-[2]. This
method make antennas more complicated. In this paper,
the concept of a fractal has been applied to the geometry
of a square microstrip patch antenna to obtain multiband
frequency operation.
Fractals are objects, which displays self similarity on
all scales. A fractal object exhibits exactly the same
structure at all scales or the same type of structure
appears on all scales. Fractal technology allowed us to
design miniature antennas and integrate multiple
telecommunication services into a single device [3]-[4].
There are many fractal geometries such as Sierpinski
gasket, Sierpinski carpet and Hilbert curve.
In this letter, we introduce a new fractal geometry,
which its basic configuration is a square. Thus, the term
Square fractal is chosen for this geometry. The antenna
has been designed by means of the first iteration of this
fractal geometry. Radiation performances of the designed
antenna are simulated using HFSS software. We achieved
circular polarization (CP) by means of patch radiator
perturbation [1]. When a coaxial feed method is used,
matching between the feed system and the radiating
system is not easy. Thus, an L-probe, known as a
broadband electromagnetic coupling probe, is used for
feeding [5].
II. SQUARE FRACTAL GEOMETRY
Fig. 1(a) shows the 1
st
and 2
nd
iteration of square
fractal geometry. In each iteration inner square is
replaced by generated square as illustrated in Fig. 1(b).
According to Fig. 1(b), area reduction of basic square by
means of fractal generator is
2 2
2 2
0 1 2 2
1 2
( )
th st
a a
s s s a a
k k
A = = +

2 2
2 2
1 2
( ) =
a a
k k
. (1)
So, the area of n
th
iteration can be calculated by
2( 1) 2( )
2 2 2
2 2 2
2 1 2
1 ( ) 1 ( )
1 ( ) (1 ( ) )
+

(
=
(


n n
n
k k
s a
k k k
. (2)
Where
1 2
1< < k k , 1 > n .
Therefore, compare with basic area
2( 1) 2( )
2 2
2 2 2
0 2 1 2
1 ( ) 1 ( )
1 ( ) (1 ( ) )
n n
n
s k k
s k k k
+

(
=
(


. (3)
It can be seen that the area of the first iteration (n=1) is
5.8% smaller than basic area.
III. ANTENNA DESIGN
In this work, we introduce term square fractal
antenna for patch with 1
st
square fractal iteration. The
geometry of this antenna is shown in Fig. 2. As illustrated
in Fig. 2, we setup L-shape feed system by means of two
layer dielectric substrate. L-shape probe is located in
bottom layer. As the substrate, a Polyfet substrate with a
relative permittivity of 2.55 c =
r
,
3
tan 1.1 10 o

= and
a thickness of h
1
=h
2
=1.59mm, for each layer, has been
used. Also, finite ground plane dimensions are
100mm 100mm.






(a)





(b) Generator

Fig. 1. The scheme of square fractal geometry and its generator.

First resonance frequency is associated with primary
square length (a=30mm). Similarly second resonance
frequency is associated with inner square length
(
2
/ 12 a k mm = i.e.
2
2.5 k = ). The other parameters (P
l
, P
s
,
P
w
, P
d
, k
1
) has been optimized for good impedance
matching in both resonance bands.
To produce CP radiation, square-shape perturbations
S
1
and S
2
are added to the antenna element. CP over 1
st

and 2
nd
resonance bands is associated with S
1
and S
2
,
respectively. Based on simulation results, optimum
values of S
1
and S
2
for axial ratio (AR) less than 3dB has
been obtained. The optimized values are listed in Table I.
IV. RETURN LOSS
Fig. 3 shows the return loss of designed antenna. As
shown in Fig. 3, first resonance frequency is at 2.498GHz
and second resonance frequency is at 5.960GHz. An
additional higher mode appears at 4.02GHz but it can be
neglected, since return loss at 4.02GHz is more than
-3dB. S
11
for both of resonance modes is less than
-15dB. Fig. 4 shows current paths of 1
st
and 2
nd
modes.
Dashed lines show average length of current paths for
each mode. In accordance with results shown in Fig. 4 we
can calculate resonance frequencies approximately by
1
1
2 c
=
eff
c
f
L
. (4)
2
2
2 c
=
eff
c
f
L
. (5)
Where effective permittivity ( ) is calculated by [6]:
0.555
1 1 10
1
2 2
r r
eff
h
w
c c
c

+
| |
= + +
|
\ .
. (6)
Most importantly, (4), (5) and (6) are valid for single
layer substrates. However, while L-shape feed patch
effect is negligible, these equations can be used for
2-layered substrate. Thus, in (6) h is the thickness of two
layers i.e. h =h
1
+h
2
. Patch width is w=30mm. L
1
and L
2

are average lengths for current paths of 1
st
and 2
nd

resonance modes, respectively.
1
1
= +
a
L a
k
. (7)
2
2
2 =
a
L
k
. (8)















(a) Antenna element












(b) Cross sectional view

Fig. 2. Basic configuration of 1
st
iteration square fractal antenna
with L-shape feed system.

In accordance with design parameters mentioned in III,
L
1
= 44mm, L
2
= 16.97mm

and effective permittivity is
a a
1
a
k
2
a
k
0
th
iteration 1
st
iteration 2
nd
iteration
S
1
S
2
a
c
P
l
P
d
P
s
P
w

F x
y
z
y
h
1
h
2
L-probe
Antenna Element
eff
c
L
1
L
2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
Freq (GHz)
S
1
1

(
d
B
)
=90
o
=0
o
2.29. Thus, resonance frequencies in (4), (5) are 2.25GHz
and 5.84GHz for 1
st
and 2
nd
modes, respectively.














Fig. 3. Return loss of 1
st
iteration square fractal antenna
parameters given in Table I.












(a) 1
st
mode (@ 2.498
GHz
)












(b) 2
nd
mode (@ 5.960
GHz
)

Fig. 4. Simulated current paths of 1
st
and 2
nd
modes .

Difference between theoretical and simulated results
for resonance frequency is due to approximation of L
1

and L
2
. Other reasons are dispertion and L-probe effects
on relative permittivity.
V. RADIATION PATTERN
Fig. 5 shows radiation and cross-polarization patterns
for both resonance modes. As shown in this figure,
cross-polarization in the 1
st
mode is -15dB less than
co-polarization values in the frontal direction
60 u <
o
, in
both planes. Also, in the 2
nd
mode, cross-polarization is
-15dB less than co-polarization values in
23
o
u <
for
= 0
o
, and
13 u <
o
for = 90
o
.
VI. IMPEDANCE AND AXIAL RATIO BANDWIDTHS
Based on simulated results, impedance bandwidths
(S
11
<-10dB) of the designed antenna in 1
st
and 2
nd
modes
are 84MHz and 620MHz, respectively. Fig. 6 shows the
axial ratio of 1
st
and 2
nd
modes. Table II shows simulated
values of impedance and axial ratio bandwidths in both
resonance bands.



(a) f=2.498
GHz


(b) f=5.960
GHz

Fig. 5. Typical radiational pattern of the 1
st
iteration square
fractal antenna with parameters given in Table I.


TABLE II
IMPEDANCE AND AXIAL RATIO BANDWIDTHS OF THE DESIGNED
ANTENNA WITH PARAMETERS GIVEN IN TABLE I.

Mode BW(S
11
<-10
dB
) BW(AR<2
dB
) BW(AR<3
dB
)
1
st
84
MHz
(3.4%) 13
MHz
21
MHz

2
nd
620
MHz
(10.4%) 42
MHz
84
MHz


TABLE I
OPTIMIZED PARAMETERS OF THE DESIGNED ANTENNA SHOWN IN
FIG. 2.
Co-polar: , Cross-polar:
P
d
P
w
P
s
P
l
S
1
S
2
k
1
k
2
11
mm
4
mm
3
mm
15
mm
2.25
mm
1.4
mm
2.14 2.5
2.48 2.5 2.52 2.51 2.49
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Freq (GHz)
A
x
i
a
l

R
a
t
i
o

(
d
B
)
5.88 5.92 5.96 6 6.04
1
2
3
4
5
6
Freq (GHz)
A
x
i
a
l

R
a
t
i
o

(
d
B
)







(a) Axial ratio of 1
st
mode







(b) Axial ratio of 2
nd
mode

Fig. 6. Axial ratio of 1
st
iteration square fractal antenna with
parameters given in Table I.
VII. CONCLUSION
In this paper, we propose a novel fractal configuration
for microstrip antenna. Simulation results of the designed
antenna in 1
st
iteration are reported. An L-probe is used
for feeding. The simulated results indicate that the
antenna exhibits a good input return loss at the designed
frequencies. We achieved circular polarization (CP) by
means of patch radiator perturbation. Axial ratio (AR)
bandwidths in 1
st
and 2
nd
modes are 21MHz and 84MHz,
respectively.
A wide window is still open to explore higher
iterations for multiband development.
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