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Published in IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation
Received on 15th May 2008
Revised on 5th February 2009
doi: 10.1049/iet-map.2008.0320

ISSN 1751-8725

Input impedance of probe-fed rectangular

microstrip antennas with variable air gap
and varying aspect ratio
S. Chattopadhyay1 M. Biswas2 J.Y. Siddiqui2 D. Guha2
1

Siliguri Institute of Technology, Darjeeling 734009, India

Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, University of Calcutta, 92 A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700009, India
E-mail: debatoshguha@rediffmail.com
2

Abstract: The input impedance of a rectangular microstrip patch with a variable air gap has been studied
theoretically and experimentally. Unlike earlier investigations, the inuence of the air gap along with the
varying patch width in changing the patch impedance is thoroughly examined. An efcient computer aided
design formulation is developed and used for this study, and the computed results are experimentally veried.
Superiority of the present theory compared to some earlier models is also indicated.

Introduction

The rectangular patch is probably the most common

microstrip geometry ever studied and implemented in the
last three decades [1]. But only a few handful investigations
with a variable air gap introduced below the substrate are
available in open literature [26]. A variable air gap in
between the ground plane and substrate attributes
impedance matching over a wider bandwidth along with the
tunability of the structure as was primarily studied in [7, 8].
The change in the operating frequency of a rectangular patch
caused by the variation in the air gap height was theoretically
studied in [36]. Recently, the present authors have also
studied the same experimentally and theoretically [9, 10].
Apart from its resonant characteristics, accurate estimation of
the input impedance along with its prole over the resonant
length is another basic design requirement, particularly when
it is fed by a coaxial probe. In the limited investigations with
air gap loaded rectangular patch [26], its impedance
characteristics were theoretically shown only in [24] using
cavity resonator model [2], spectral domain analysis [3] and
transmission line model [4]. The theory developed in [2] was
compared with their own measurements only.
Indeed in a rectangular geometry with an air gap, twodimensional parameters, like the variable height of the air gap
and the width of the rectangular patch directly inuence the
IET Microw. Antennas Propag., 2009, Vol. 3, Iss. 8, pp. 1151 1156
doi: 10.1049/iet-map.2008.0320

input impedance. In this paper, we have addressed this issue

theoretically and experimentally. An improved formulation is
developed in a simplied way which can accurately account
for the change in the fringing elds and hence the effective
dimensions along the radiating and non-radiating edges
caused by the change in the air gap height and variation of
the patch width. Unlike most of the previous studies, we have
thoroughly examined these characteristics experimentally
using the prototypes having different patch width, keeping
the length xed and with varying air gap. The present theory
has been compared with our measurements showing excellent
agreement. It has also been compared with previously
reported theory and measurements indicating more closer
approximation to the measured values.

Theoretical formulations

A coaxially fed rectangular microstrip patch (RMP) with

length L and width W, printed on a dielectric substrate (1r)
above an air gap is shown in Fig. 1. A prototype etched on
Taconics TLY-3-0620 substrate and studied with an air
gap is also shown in Fig. 2. The variable air gap is
determined by the nite value of h1 , which when equal to
zero, turns the structure to a conventional form.
We have employed the standard impedance formula for a
RMP which near resonance of the dominant mode is given
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because of radiation (Qr), dielectric (Qd) and conductor
(Qc) present in the radiating structure as


1
1
1

QT
Qr Qd Qc

1
(3)

The increments in the patch dimensions, represented by DL

and DW, are caused by the fringing of the electric elds at the
radiating and non-radiating edges, respectively. To determine
them in a simplied way, we consider an equivalent circular
patch having radius a, and effective radius aeff resonating at
the same frequency as that of the RMP. This helps us to
establish a relationship among the fringing parameters DL,
DW and aeff by equating the zero-order resonant
frequencies of both the patches as given by
Figure 1 A coax-fed RMP antenna

f0,r

c
ca
p
p
2L 1r 2pa 1r

(4)

Following one previous work [13], we may consider that both

the patches resonating at the same frequency are having
identical circumference. This results in the following
relations as
(W L) pa

(5)

L 2DL (W 2DW ) paeff

(6)

Here, c is the velocity of light in free space, and a is the rst

zero of the derivative of the Bessel function of order one. The
effective radius of a circular microstrip patch because of
fringing electric elds given by [8]
q
aeff a (1 q)
Figure 2 Photograph of a probe-fed prototype with
L W 30 mm etched on TLY-3-0620 substrate
measuring 100 mm  100 mm  1.575 mm and placed
on a ground plane (175 mm 175 mm) maintaining a
uniform variable air gap
by [11, 12]
Zin ( f , x0 )

1

Solving (4) (7), we have the following primary relation

p
p[a (1 q)  1]
DL DW
2

DW DL(1:5  p)

(1)

Here f f =fr , fr being the dominant mode resonant frequency

and Rr is the input resistance at resonance given as [11]



 
4h
L 2DL
2 p 0:5L  x0
cos
mh Q
Rr
(2)
pl0 0 T W 2DW
L 2DL
where h0 is the intrinsic impedance of free space and QT is
the total quality factor, expressed in terms of the losses
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where q is the fringing factor and can be calculated using the

relation derived in [8].

(8)

An empirical relation is suggested to evaluate DW in terms of

DL which is found to be valid over a wide range of W/L
values 2 . W/L  0.5 as

Rr
1 Q2T ( f  f )2
"
#
1
Rr QT ( f  f )
j Xf 
1
1 Q2T ( f  f )2

(7)

(9)

where p W =2L.
Equations (8) and (9) result in an effective formula to
determine DL in terms of the physical parameters of the
patch itself and its equivalent circular geometry which is
given by
p
pa[ (1 q)  1]
DL
2[2:5  0:5(W =L)]

(10)

IET Microw. Antennas Propag., 2009, Vol. 3, Iss. 8, pp. 1151 1156
doi: 10.1049/iet-map.2008.0320

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The accurate evaluation of DL is very important as it also
plays a signicant role in determining accurate values of fr ,
recently derived in [9] as
c
fr p
2 1reff (L 2DL)

(11)

where c is the velocity of light in free space and 1reff is the

effective permittivity of the medium below the patch. The
theoretical derivation of 1reff involves lengthy mathematical
steps as described in [9].
We further have introduced a new parameter 1r,n to
calculate the quantities Qr and Qd using the standard
relations [14]. The parameter 1r,n indeed modies 1reff and
accounts for the fringing effects over the radiating edges in
the following form [11]
1r,n

1reff 1
2

(12)

Thus Qr , Qd and Qc can be written as [14, 15]

p
4Gr Zr
p
p(1r  1) 1r,n
1
p
Qd
27:3(1r,n  1) 21r,n  1 tan d
p
Qc h pf m0 s
Qr

Our measurements with two different patches having W/

L 1.5 and 1.0, set at different air gap heights (h1 0, 0.4
and 1.0 mm), are presented and compared with the
computed values in Fig. 3. For the patch with W/L 1.5
(Fig. 3a), the feed was located at x0 6 mm. The computed
curves closely follow the prole of the measured data with an
off-set of about 0.08 GHz in the frequency domain for
h1 0 case. Very close agreement between the theory and
the measurement is apparent for the same patch with an air
gap height h1 1 mm. Similar studies with W/L 1,
examined in Fig. 3b, also indicate the accuracy of the present
formula in predicting the input impedance values but with a
relative shift in frequency (0.07 GHz). This apparent
discrepancy is due to the fact that the theoretical impedance
curves are calculated using the theoretical resonant frequency
of the element which in fact corresponds to the minimum
return loss. But the measured impedance prole indicates
the resonance occurring near its peak. The change in the
width W of a rectangular patch, keeping its length L
unaltered, signicantly affects the input impedance values as
theoretically demonstrated in Fig. 4. This is further studied
and conrmed using some simulated results in Fig. 6.

(13)
(14)
(15)

where
Gr

W2
,
90l20

for W  0:35l0

W
1

,
120l0 60p2

W
,
120l0

for 0:35l0  W  2l0

for 2l0 , W

(16)

and
Zr

120p[(W =h) 1:393 0:667 ln((W =h) 1:444)]1

p
1r,n
(17)

Results and discussions

A set of prototypes having different air gap heights and W/L

ratios have been thoroughly investigated experimentally using
Agilents E8363B network analyzer. These experimental
results have been used to verify the computed values. Some
representative theoretical and experimental results are
presented in this section. The computed results are
compared with our measurements and also with those of
others reported earlier.
IET Microw. Antennas Propag., 2009, Vol. 3, Iss. 8, pp. 1151 1156
doi: 10.1049/iet-map.2008.0320

Figure 3 Input impedance against frequency of rectangular

patches with and without air gap. 1r 2.33, L 30 mm,
h2 1.575 mm, tan d 0.001
a W/L 1.5, h1 0 and 1 mm, x0 6 mm
b W/L 1, h1 0.4 and 1 mm, x0 3.5 mm

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Figure 4 Input impedance against frequency of rectangular

patches for different aspect ratio W/L. e r 2.33, L 30 mm,
h1 0, h2 1.575 mm, tan d 0.001 and x0 6.0 mm
The resistance at resonance, usually called resonant
resistance, Rr is an important parameter to be accurately
estimated with the change in the feed location to determine
the optimum matched point on the patch surface. This is
experimentally studied and compared with the present
formulas in Fig. 5. The theoretical curve shows excellent
agreement with the measurements. The dependence of Rr
on the feed point for varying patch width W is examined
theoretically in Fig. 6. The computed values are veried with
simulated results obtained using [16]. Very close agreement
between our theory and the simulation is revealed. It is
important to note that the 50 V matched point on the patch
with same L but different W will be different and this comes
close to the patch centre as the patch width decreases. We
also veried our theoretical values with the method of
moment (MoM) results [12] and some measurements
reported in [17], although all of them are not shown here.

Figure 6 Resonant resistance against feed position of

rectangular patches for different aspect ratio W/L. h1 0
and other parameters same as in Fig. 4. Theoretical
resonant frequencies: 3.16 GHz (W/L 0.7), 3.11 GHz
(W/L 1.0) and 3.05 GHz (W/L 1.5)

Figure 7 Resonant resistance of a coax-fed rectangular

patch against air gap height. 1 r 2.33, L 30 mm,
W/L 1.5, h2 1.575 mm and tan d 0.001

In Fig. 7, the change in the resonant resistance with the air

gap height is theoretically and experimentally examined. The

Figure 8 Resonant resistance of rectangular patch as a

function of aspect ratio W/L with and without air gap.
Parameters same as in Fig. 4
Figure 5 Resonant resistance against feed position of a
coax-fed rectangular patch antenna. 1 r 2.33,
L 30 mm, W/L 1.5, h1 0, h 2 1.575 mm and
tan d 0.001, calculated fr 3.05 GHz
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theoretical predictions of linear increment in Rr show good

agreement with the measurements. Its corresponding
change in the resonant frequency values is also shown using
IET Microw. Antennas Propag., 2009, Vol. 3, Iss. 8, pp. 1151 1156
doi: 10.1049/iet-map.2008.0320

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Table 1 Present formula compared with measurements and theory in [2] L 20 mm
W/L(mm)

1r

h2(mm) x0(mm) h1(mm)

Rr
Measured [2] (V)

1.0

1.325

2.33

4.55

1.59

1.56

Computed (V)
[2]

Present

49.5

49.0

50.0

0.5

50.0

52.5

51.0

1.0

50.0

54.0

52.5

38.0

47.5

40.0

0.5

58.0

52.0

58.0

1.0

74.0

67.0

74.5

3.5

4.6

Avg. % error

9.83

2.3

the calculated data supported by our measurements. Again,

Rr is found to decrease as the width W increases and a set
of theoretical curves supported by some measurements is
shown in Fig. 8. The theoretical values were obtained by
keeping the feeding probe at a xed point as given in the
gure caption. And the associated change in fr is also
indicated using our theoretical curves. The theoretical
values are closely supported by two sets of simulated data.

[2] ABBOUD F., DAMIANO J.P., PAPIERNIK A.: Accurate model for
the input impedance of coax-fed rectangular microstrip
antenna with and without air gap. Proc. ICAP, 1989,
pp. 102 106

The only experiments reported earlier in [2] are compared

with our theory in Table 1. Each measured resonant
resistance value was extracted from the data-point on the
measured impedance locus [2] occurring nearest to the
matched location, that is, the centre of the smith chart.
Their theoretical model [2] has also been used in Table 1
to compare with ours. The comparison among the theories
and measurements shows good agreement, with the present
theory showing the closest approximation with respect to
the measured data as indicated by the average per cent error.

[4] ZHONG S., LIN G. , STASSEVICH V. : Improved

transmission line model for input impedance of
rectangular microstrip antennas with multi-dielectric
layers. Dig. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Symp., 1994,
pp. 492 495

Conclusions

Input impedance characteristics of RMPs with air gaps have

been thoroughly studied. A simple computer aided design is
developed and veried with several measurements done by
the present authors and also by others reported earlier.
Compared to other theories too, the present one provides
much simplied and reliable formulas to predict design
values very close to the measured results. This particularly
will help in identifying proper feed location for a probe fed
design to accurately match a 50 V feed and to provide
optimum performance of the antenna.

References

[1] CONWAY G.A. , COTTON S.L. , SCANLON W.G. : Design and

characterization of integrated antennas for compact
wearable wireless devices. Proc. CNC/USNC North
American Radio Science Meeting, Canada, 2007
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doi: 10.1049/iet-map.2008.0320

[3] FAN Z., LEE K.-F.: Spectral domain analysis of rectangular

microstrip antennas with an air gap, Microw. Opt. Technol.
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[5] QIU J., HUANG Y., WANG A.: An improved model for the
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[14] VERMA A.K. , NASIMUDDIN : Resonance frequency

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IET Microw. Antennas Propag., 2009, Vol. 3, Iss. 8, pp. 1151 1156
doi: 10.1049/iet-map.2008.0320