Improved Cross-Polarization Characteristics of Circular Microstrip Antenna Employing Arc-Shaped Defected Ground Structure (DGS)

Application of defected ground structure (DGS) to suppress cross-polarized (XP) radiation from a microstrip patch antenna has been reinvestigated using a new DGS geometry for much improved characteristics. Arc-shaped defect has been used in pair, symmetrically located under a circular patch. A number of optimization parameters have been examined using simulated results, leading to a design indicating improved XP behavior. A set of identical prototypes, with and without DGS, have been experimentally studied. The presence of the DGS shows as much as 30 dB isolation of the XP level from its peak radiation, and that compared to an identical patch without DGS indicates an improvement by as much as 12 dB. The relative suppression in XP values are found to be around 7-12 dB over ±75° elevation around the boresight of the patch.