Design and realization of novel frequency selective surface loaded dielectric resonator antenna via 3D printing technology

Abstract

One frequently addressed technique for the performance enhancement of radiating elements in the form of microstrip antennas is the utilization of dielectric resonators. A dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) has a conventional structural formation similar to any microstrip patch antenna where, at least, one additional dielectric layer has been placed over the radiating element. In this paper, it is aimed to propose a high performance, easy to prototype, light weight, and low cost DRA in combination with frequency selective surfaces (FSS) for ISM band applications using 3D printing technology. The proposed 3D printed FSS loaded DRA has a measured gain of 5.6 dBi with S11 level less than -10 dB in the operation band between 1.98 and 2.68 GHz. Furthermore, the measured performance of 3D printed antenna is compared with the counterpart alternative antenna designs in the literature for the similar application fields. The novel FSS loaded DRA is not only much smaller than the counterpart antenna designs but also has a moderate gain characteristics which makes the proposed antenna design an optimal RF solution for ISM band wireless communication applications.