Low-cost truncated corner microstrip antenna for GPS application

This paper reported a step-to-step procedure to design a low-cost FR4 GPS TCMA radiator. In order to reach the GPS specifications, in particular an acceptable value for the radiation efficiency, a thick substrate had to be used. As expected, this procedure improved the radiation efficiency but produced an input impedance that is more inductive, making difficult the antenna matching. To overcome this problem, new capacitive fractal gap geometry was designed. Experimental and simulated results indicate that it is possible to manufacture microstrip antennas with substrates having high loss tangent (like FR4) without severe degradation of their electrical performance, especially the radiation efficiency.