CRLH Unit-Cell Loaded Multiband Printed Dipole Antenna

In this letter, a conventional single-band printed dipole antenna is loaded with via-less composite right/left-handed (CRLH) unit cells to achieve multiband operation. Symmetrical loading of the unit cells provides a dual-band operation, while the asymmetrical loading of unit cells provides a triple-band operation. The new operational frequencies are lower compared to the resonance frequency of a reference dipole antenna and are controlled by the unit-cell parameters. The radiation patterns at all the operating frequencies of the proposed antennas are omnidirectional. Both the dual- and triple-band prototypes of CRLH loaded dipoles are fabricated to validate the results obtained in simulation. The results of measurements and electromagnetic (EM) simulations are in good agreement.