Dual-band miniaturized microstrip fractal antenna for a small GSM 1800 + UMTS mobile handset

A novel microstrip GSM1800 + UMTS dual-band antenna based on a Koch fractal shaped patch element is presented. The antenna has been developed to be used in small handsets of future multi-standard mobile communication systems. The fractal miniaturization technique has been combined with a patch inverted F antenna (PIFA) structure. The effect of a small ground plane has been taken into account. The antenna prototype has been fabricated and tested. Good agreement has been obtained between numerical simulations and experimental results providing validation of the design procedure.