International Journal of Electromagnetics and Applications 2012, 2(3): 41-45

DOI: 10.5923/j.ijea.20120203.04

Wideband Stacked Rectangular Dielectric Resonator

Antenna at 5.2 GHz
G. D. Makwana1,2,*, Deepak Ghodgaonkar2

1
EC Department, Sankalchand Patel College of Engineering, Visnagar, 384315, India
2
RF Laboratory, Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Gandhinagar, 382007, India

Abstract This paper presents a design of stacked rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (RDRA) with wide bandwidth,
in the range of 13.56 % is described. The antenna exploits two low-Q modes with overlapping bandwidths to achieve a wide
continuous bandwidth. This is achieved using low-permittivity DRA volume placed on high permittivity DRA volume. The
antenna consists of dielectric constant of 10 and 32, stacked vertically to obtain improved bandwidth as compared to the
conventional RDRA. A 50 Ω microstrip line is used in the proposed antenna as a feeding mechanism. Physical parameters of
stacked RDRA have been optimized by extensive simulations using Ansoft HFSS. The parameters of antenna are 17x7x4.56
mm3 with grounded substrate size: 80x50 mm2. The prototype is fabricated. Measured and simulated results are both in good
agreement. The prototype antenna designed to operate in band from 5.0 to 5.7 GHz with measured gain at 5.2 GHz resonant
frequency. The proposed antenna is suitable for wireless local area networks (WLAN) applications in 5 GHz frequency band
(in the frequency range 5.15-5.35 GHz and 5.5-5.7 GHz). This stacked RDRA exceeds the bandwidth requirements for IEEE
802.11a WLAN applications within a required VSWR. Parametric studies of the stacked DRA are presented.
Keywords Stacked Dielectric Resonator Antenna, Wireless Application, Microstrip line, WLAN

operation with compact design of the DRAs.

1. Introduction Applications in the wireless and mobile communication
areas require the development of radiating elements, which
The rapid increase in the demand for wireless applications have as compact/low profile and wideband as possible.
in the GHz range has led the research community to focus Hence, a lot of research is directed towards an increase of the
their attention on highly efficient antennas, which exhibit bandwidth of the DRAs while keeping the size compact/low
wide bandwidth and good radiation characteristics. The profile. Towards this goal, the technique of merging modes
DRA introduced by Long et al. in 1983[1], could be used for has proven to be very beneficial[4, 5, and 6]. The basic
such applications due to high radiation efficiency, light concept relies on the excitation of multiple modes at nearby
weight, and versatility in their shape and feeding mecha- frequencies, so that an overall wide impedance bandwidth
nisms[2,3]. DRAs exhibit a wider impedance bandwidth and can be achieved. This can be done in two ways. One way is to
higher radiation efficiency, especially at millimeter- wave combine the DRA modes with resonances of the feeding
frequencies where the conductor losses of metallic patches scheme. For instance, a simple cylindrical DRA (CDRA)
are considerable. described in[4] is fed from a microstrip line through two
One of the most crucial issues of conventional DRAs is the parallel bowtie slots. Here, an impedance bandwidth of
dependence of their size and impedance bandwidth on the around 33% is obtained through the excitation of the HEM11δ
dielectric constant of material used in antennas. A DRA mode of the CDRA together with two modes from the re-
made from a low permittivity material would have a rela- sonant bowtie slots. The second way to achieve the merging
tively large volume due to the inverse proportionality be- of modes is through the design of the appropriate DRA
tween effective wavelength and the square root of the per- geometry that results in the excitation of higher-order DRA
mittivity. It would, however, exhibit a low radiation Q-factor modes at nearby frequencies. Conceptually this technique is
and therefore a wide impedance bandwidth. On the other side, relatively simple, but it nevertheless comes along with an
a high permittivity DRA would be small in size, with narrow important issue, which needs to be taken into account. Every
bandwidth operation[3]. Choice of dielectric constant of mode has different radiation characteristics (radiation pat-
material used in the DRA is crucially important for wideband terns, polarization) and therefore, a not well-controlled
merging of modes technique would result in patterns of the
* Corresponding author:
[email protected] (G. D. Makwana)
DRA that vary with frequency. Examples of well-operating
Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ijea DRAs are given in[5,6], where the excitation of the funda-
Copyright © 2012 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved mental TEx111 and the higher-order TEx113 modes of the rec-
42 G. D. Makwana et al.: Wideband Stacked Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna at 5.2 GHz

tangular DRA (RDRA) or the HEM11δ and HEM11Δ of the dimensions of the RDRA were determined using equations
CDRA result in wide impedance bandwidth and stable developed by dielectric waveguide model (DWM) given in
broadside radiation patterns. The merging of the two modes [3].
of the RDRA is achieved through the careful dimensioning 𝐄𝐄𝐲𝐲 = Ak z cos(k x x) cos�k y y� sin(k z z) (1.a)
of the parallelepiped dielectric resonator. So, if the height of 𝐄𝐄𝐳𝐳 = −Ak y cos(k x x) sin�k y y� cos(k z z) (1.b)
the RDRA is chosen to be much larger than its length and 𝐄𝐄𝐱𝐱 = 0 (1.c)
width, the TEx111 and TEx113 modes are found at nearby k k
𝐇𝐇𝐳𝐳 = x z A sin(k x x) sin�k y y� cos(k z z) (1.d)
frequencies, which is in agreement with theory[6]. jωμ0
ky kx
Some special geometry of DRAs such as conical, 𝐇𝐇𝐲𝐲 = A sin(k x x) sin�k y y� cos(k z z) (1.e)
jωμ0
bi-conical, notch, triangle shape, have enhanced the imped- �k z 2 +k y 2 �
ance bandwidth[7-9] which are designed for broadband DRA. 𝐇𝐇𝐱𝐱 = A cos(k x x) cos�k y y� cos(k z z) (1.f)
jωμ0
It was shown experimentally in[10-13] that stacking two
DRAs on the top of each can increase an impedance band- 𝐤𝐤 𝐱𝐱 𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭(𝐤𝐤 𝐱𝐱 𝐖𝐖⁄𝟐𝟐) = �(𝛆𝛆𝐫𝐫𝐫𝐫 − 𝟏𝟏)𝐤𝐤 𝟐𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝐤𝐤 𝟐𝟐𝐱𝐱 (2)
width. But by this method, the DRA’s volume is a significant where,
problem which may not maintain the major characteristic of
low-profile and also it is not easy to fabricate. In[14], wide 𝐤𝐤 𝐱𝐱 = �𝛆𝛆𝐫𝐫𝐫𝐫 𝐤𝐤 𝟐𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝐤𝐤 𝟐𝟐𝐲𝐲 − 𝐤𝐤 𝟐𝟐𝐳𝐳
bandwidth operation has achieved by stacking of two dif- 𝐤𝐤 𝐳𝐳 = 𝛑𝛑⁄𝐡𝐡𝟏𝟏
ferent microwave materials in A-shape using P-shape para- 𝐤𝐤 𝐲𝐲 = 𝛑𝛑⁄𝐋𝐋
sitic strip. A coplanar waveguide (CPW) fed stacked rec- 𝐤𝐤 𝟎𝟎 = 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝐟𝐟𝟎𝟎⁄𝐜𝐜
tangular resonator has reported in[15] to achieve broadband 𝐜𝐜 = 𝟑𝟑 × 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟖𝟖 𝐦𝐦/𝐬𝐬
operation for millimeter underground communication. It was To account the effect of two different dielectric materials
shown that wideband operation has achieved by stacked on resonant frequency of the stacked RDRA, the DWM
triangular dielectric resonator antenna for wireless applica- equations were modified by replacing slab 1’s height (h1)
tions in 5-6 GHz frequency range by a conformal patch with an effective height (h) and dielectric constant of slab 1
feeding technique reported in[16]. It is shown theoretically (εr1) with effective permittivity (εeff)[13]. The effective
in[17] that ultra wide bandwidth (10-dB return loss) height of the stacked RDRA is simple sum of slabs’ height
achieved by stacking of high permittivity material on lower 𝐡𝐡 = 𝐡𝐡𝟏𝟏 + 𝐡𝐡𝟐𝟐 (3)
permittivity material of rectangular shape using coaxial The effective permittivity is calculated using
feeding technique. In[18], the wide band has achieved using 𝐡𝐡
𝛆𝛆𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞 = ⁄ (4)
a full-length low- permittivity inset between a higher per- ⁄
𝛆𝛆𝐫𝐫𝐫𝐫 𝐡𝐡𝟏𝟏 +𝛆𝛆𝐫𝐫𝐫𝐫 𝐡𝐡𝟐𝟐
mittivity dielectric volume and a ground plane. This exploits
multiple low-Q modes with overlapping bandwidths. The
volume of such DRAs reduced by means of a finite planar
conducting wall. This paper investigates stacked rectangular
DRA gives wide bandwidth operation. Measured results are
compared against the simulated results. This proposed an-
tenna has wide impedance bandwidth. The measured co-
polarization and cross polarization of radiation patterns over
the impedance bandwidth (S11 < -10 dB) are compared each
other. The measured return loss is presented and discussed.

2. Antenna Geometry
Figure 1 shows the geometry of the proposed stacked
rectangular DRA. A 50 Ω microstrip line is used (width =
4.45 mm), which is printed on top of the grounded substrate
with thickness Hs = 1.56 mm, dielectric constant of 2.5 and
Figure 1. Geometry of the proposed antenna
loss factor of 0.0017. Two DRA slabs (slab 1 & 2) are made
from different permittivity εr1 and εr2 with same cross sec-
tional area (L x W) but different heights h1 and h2 to form the 3. Simulated Results
stacked RDRA. The slab 1 is placed above the microstrip
line for coupling, whereas the slab 2 is placed on the top of Based on extensive simulation studies, design parameters
the slab 1 for electromagnetic coupling. The total height of of the stacked RDRA have been optimized. Slab 1 is made of
stacked RDRA is h = h1 + h2. The size of ground plane is Ls x microwave material with dielectric constant of 32 and
Ws = 80 x 50 mm2. The fields equations of lowest order thickness, h1, of 3 mm. Slab 2 is made of several layers of
mode TExδ11 within RDRA are as per the (1). The design microwave material with dielectric constant of 10.2 and
 International Journal of Electromagnetics and Applications 2012, 2(3): 41-45 43

thickness of each layer is 0.78 mm. Cross sectional areas of Table 1. Effect of height (h2) of Slab2 on Slab 1
both slabs are equal having dimension of length, L = 17 mm h2 h fOC fOS % of S11 %
and width, W = 7 mm. Simulation studies are carried out for mm mm (GHz) (GHz) Error (dB) BW
different height, h2, of the slab 2 on the slab 1 which has 0.00 3.00 5.341 5.68 6.36 -35.41 11.97
0.78 3.78 5.461 5.41 0.93 -30.42 12.75
dimension of 17x7x3 mm3, to form a stacked RDRA. Open
1.56 4.56 5.311 5.21 1.90 -28.50 13.11
ended microstrip line is optimized for the return loss char- 2.34 5.34 5.126 5.00 2.46 -35.52 14.00
acteristic with reference to centre of the stacked RDRA for
all cases. Simulated return loss characteristics for different
heights of slab 2 are shown in Figure 2. Table 1 lists calcu-
lated resonant frequency (foc) and simulated resonant fre-
quency (fos), return loss characteristics, and % of 6-dB im-
pedance bandwidth. It is noticed that as height of slab 2 is
increased from 00 mm to 2.34 mm in the step of 0.78 mm,
the resonant frequency of the antenna is decreased, from 5.68
GHz to 5.00 GHz, whereas % of 6-dB impedance bandwidth
is increased from 11.97% to 14.00%. This shows that by
stacking of low permittivity microwave material on conven-
tional dielectric resonator antenna made of high permittivity
microwave material, the decrease in the resonant frequency
and the increase in the impedance bandwidth can be
achieved. The resonant frequencies of stacked RDRA are Figure 3. Simulated radiation pattern at 5.2 GHz of the antenna
calculated base on equations (2, 3, and 4). Table 1 show that
simulated resonant frequencies (fos) and calculated resonant
frequencies (foc) have % of error in the order of 1 to 2.5.
Based on these simulation results, physical design parame-
ters: L = 17 mm, W = 7 mm, and h = 4.56 mm have been
chosen for the proposed antenna to excite at 5.2 GHz reso-
nant frequency. Table 2 lists the design parameters of the
proposed stacked DRA. Figure 3 shows simulated radiation
patterns of the antenna at 5.2 GHz. For comparison simula-
tion is carried out for conventional rectangular DRA with L =
17 mm, W = 7 mm, h1 = 4.56 mm, dielectric constant, εr1 =
32. Figure 3 shows simulated return loss characteristics of
conventional RDRA and proposed stacked RDRA. It is ob-
served that the conventional antenna resonants at 4.41 GHz
with 8.50 % of 6-dB impedance bandwidth. This shows that
by stacking different microwave materials with different Figure 4. Simulated return loss characteristics of conventional RDRA and
permittivity, the wideband operation can be obtained. the proposed stacked RDRA

Table 2. Optimized parameters of the antenna

Dielectric L W Height Loss
constant (εr) (mm) (mm) (mm) factor
Slab 1 32 17.00 7.00 3.00 0.0011
Slab 2 10 17.00 7.00 1.56 0.0017

Figure 2. Simulated S11 for different height of Slab 2 Figure 5. Photograph of the fabricated antenna
44 G. D. Makwana et al.: Wideband Stacked Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna at 5.2 GHz

Simulation is carried out for conventional DRA with L =

17 mm, W = 7 mm, h1 = 3.44 mm, dielectric constant εr1 = 32.
It has resonant frequency of 5.2 GHz and 560 MHz band-
width. As compared to stacked RDRA, the conventional
RDRA has less volume for the same resonant frequency.
Thus, at the cost of volume, the wideband operation is
achieved by stacking the dielectric resonator antennas. It is
observed that stacking of low dielectric constant’s material
on the high permittivity material, the enhancement of
bandwidth can be achieved. As the height of stacking mate-
rial is increased, an increase of bandwidth is obtained. So
there is trade off between the bandwidth and volume of
dielectric resonator antenna.
Figure 6. Experiment setup with the proposed antenna
Table 3. Performance comparison of the antenna
Parameters Simulated Measured
4. Measured Results and Discussion Resonant freq. (GHz) 5.21 5.23
Return loss S11 (dB) -28.50 -22.90
The proposed antenna is fabricated as per the parameters
6-dB bandwidth (MHz) 682 710
given in Table 2. Figure 5 shows the photographs of the % of bandwidth 13.11 13.57
fabricated antenna. And Figure 6 shows the experiment setup Gain at bore site (dB) 5.25 5.23
for measurement of return loss characteristics of the antenna.
The return loss characteristic of the antenna is measured by E plane

N5230A PNA series network analyzer. The measured and

0

simulated return loss characteristics of the antenna are shown

30 330

in Figure 7. Comparison of measured and simulated per-

formances of the proposed antenna is listed in Table 3. From 60 300

Figure 7 and Table 3, it is noticed that measured results are in

excellent agreement with simulated results. The antenna has
a 6-dB return loss bandwidth of 710 MHz (5.01 GHz to 5.72
GHz) at its resonant frequency of 5.23 GHz. The radiation 90
-30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0
270

patterns of the antenna are measured in an anechoic chamber.

The co and cross polarization patterns in the E- plane and H-
plane of the antenna are presented at resonant frequency in
Figure 8 and Figure 9 respectively. There is good agreement
120 240
Eco Polarization
between simulated and measured radiation patterns. It shows Ecross Polarization

that the antenna has broadside radiations. The proposed 150 210

antenna has linear polarization over the said bandwidth. The 180

proposed antenna shows a cross polarization level better than Figure 8. Measured E- plane radiation patterns at 5.23 GHz
-20 dB at the resonant frequency. The measured gain is 5.23
dBi at bore site for the resonant frequency. It is in good H plane
0
agreement with simulated gain. 30 330

60 300

-30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0

90 270

120 240

Hco Polarization
Hcross Polarization

150 210

180
Figure 7. Measured and simulated return loss characteristics of the an-
tenna Figure 9. Measured H-plane radiation patterns at 5.23 GHz
 International Journal of Electromagnetics and Applications 2012, 2(3): 41-45 45

5. Conclusions 241-243, 2005.

In this paper, we have demonstrated that the bandwidth of [7] Almpanis G., Fumeaux C., and Vahldieck R., “Novel
broadband dielectric resonator antenna fed through
rectangular DR antenna can be increased substantially by double-bowtie-slot excitation scheme”, ACES Journal, Vol.
placing low-permittivity DR volume on high permittivity 22, No. 1, pp. 97-104, 2007.
DR volume. A simple microstrip fed stacked rectangular
DRA operated at 5.2 GHz has been proposed. It has 6-dB [8] Li B. and Leund K.W., “Strip-fed rectangular dielectric re-
sonator antennas with/without a parasitic patch”, IEEE
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radiation patterns. Frequency range of the antenna is from 1390-1398, 1993.
5.0 GHz to 5.72 GHz. It has cross polarization level better
than -20 dBi. The antenna is made from two different mate- [9] Chair R., Kishk A.A., and Lee K.F., “Wideband simple cy-
lindrical dielectric resonator antenna”, IEEE Microwave and
rials to achieve the benefit of compact size and wider Wireless Components Letters”, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 241-243,
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proposed antenna has high radiation efficiency. Fabrication
cost is reduced because of simple microstrip feeding. Con- [10] Kishk A. A., Zhang X., Glisson A. W., Kajfez D., “Numerical
analysis of stacked dielectric resonator antennas excited by a
sidering these benefits, the antenna is proposed for WLAN coaxial probe for wideband application”, IEEE Transaction
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[11] Kishk A. A., Ahn B., and Kajfez D., “Broadband stacked
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 25, No. 18, pp. 1232-1233, Aug, 1989.
The authors would like to thank Dr. K. J. Vinoy, Micro- [12] Rocha H. H. B., Freire F. N. A., Sohn R.S.T.M., da Silva
wave Laboratory, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, M.G., Santos M.R.P., Junqueria C.C.M., Cordaro T., and
India for his continuous support and guidance for this work. Sombra A.S.B., “Bandwidth enhancement of stacked dielec-
tric resonator antennas excited by a coaxial probe: an expe-
He provides require microwave materials to fabricate the riment and numerical investigation”, IET Microwave An-
prototype and guide to carry out measurement of various tennas Propagation, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 580-587. 2008.
parameters to complete the work.
[13] Petosa A., Simons N., Siushansian R., Ittipiboon A. and
Cuhaci M., “Design and analysis of multisegment dielectric
resonator antennas”, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and
Propagation, Vol. 48, No. 5, May 2000, pp. 738-742.
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