Beamwidth Optimization of CP Antenna Using Periodic Conducting Structures for Satellite Applications

A simple microstrip antenna with periodic grounded conducting post surrounding the antenna is proposed to broaden the 3dB beamwidth without sacrificing size and avoid complex feeding network. The combined effect of the number of posts and their height on the antenna parameters was investigated. The results shows that the 3dB beamwidth of an antenna can be adjusted by changing the height of the conducting post and it can be widened to more than 190° in all azimuth axes, while still maintaining a gain of l. 6dBi.