Theoretical and experimental investigations on a microstrip-coupled cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna

A microstrip-coupled CDRA excited in the HE11δ mode is theoretically and experimentally investigated. The antenna is simulated using the finite-element method. The parameters considered are the resonant frequency, return loss, radiation pattern, directivity, unloaded Q-factor, and impedance bandwidth. The variation of these parameters with the position of the CDRA on the microstrip line is presented and discussed. Good agreement between predicted and measured results was obtained for the investigated antenna parameters, establishing the finite-element method as an accurate analysis tool for microstrip-coupled CDRAs. Microstrip coupling is efficient, simple, and easy to implement. A further benefit is that, by varying the position of the CDRA with respect to the microstrip line, the radiation characteristics can be altered. This can be a particularly useful feature since the antenna parameters can be tuned to meet design specifications.