This article is a practical guide on how to feed a microstrip patch antenna on a finite ground using a pin feed.
As an example, we will look at a microstrip patch antenna fed by a coaxial cable via an SMA connector from below the patch.
The front and side (section) view of the physical microstrip patch antenna for illustration purposes. Dimensions not to scale.
The patch antenna is modelled using a finite ground plane. A good approximation of a microstrip patch antenna (fed from below using an SMA connector) is to use a wire that connects the patch and the finite ground. A wire port and voltage source are added to the wire to excite the patch antenna.
An example of a micostrip patch antenna on a finite substrate in CADFEKO.
To excite the microstrip antenna:
- To model the SMA connector, add a wire from the ground to the patch. The wire should be located where the SMA connector would have been connected.
The microstrip patch antenna with a cut plane showing the wire.
- Select the wire and add a wire port to the start of the wire (on the side of the ground).
The microstrip patch antenna with a cut plane showing the location of the wire port on the wire.
- Add a voltage source to the wire port.
The microstrip patch antenna with a cut plane showing the voltage source added to the wire port.
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