Frequency-Agile Patch Element Using Varactor Loaded Patterned Ground Plane

This paper presents, for the first time, a method to realize the concept of frequency agility on patch-type circuits, which have found more applications at very high frequencies because of its simple structure. A patterned ground plane has recently been proposed for size reduction of patch-type circuits making them more favorable at lower frequencies. An additional auxiliary patch on the ground plane is proposed in this paper as a mechanism to change the capacitance between the upper patch and ground plane. The patterned ground plane loaded with tunable capacitors is applied to the patch element to realize frequency agility. For demonstration, a frequency-agile rectangular patch hybrid coupler with a varactor loaded patterned ground plane is designed to operate over a frequency range of 50% (from 1.5 to 2.5 GHz) with good return loss, small amplitude imbalance, and quadrature phase characteristics.