A broad-band U-slot rectangular patch antenna on a microwave substrate

A broad-band U-slot rectangular patch antenna printed on a microwave substrate is investigated. The dielectric constant of the substrate is 2.33. The antenna is fed by a coaxial probe. The characteristics of the U-slot patch antenna are analyzed by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Experimental results for the input impedance and radiation patterns are obtained and compared with numerical results. The maximum impedance bandwidth achieved is 27%, centered around 3.1 GHz, with good pattern characteristics.