Wide-Beam Dielectric Resonator Antenna With Attached Higher-Permittivity Dielectric Slabs

A novel wide-beamwidth rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is proposed. By loading two pairs of higher-permittivity dielectric slabs symmetrically on two opposite surfaces of the rectangular DRA in one direction parallel to the feeding slot, the E-plane radiations from two opposite surfaces of the DRA are restrained. Dimensions and the relative permittivity of the dielectric slabs are adjusted, and the E-plane beamwidths of the DRA are expanded. Moreover, two sides of the metal ground plane in another direction perpendicular to the feeding slot are folded down, and the H-plane beamwidths are broadened. In order to verify the design feasibility and explain the operating principle, a wide-beamwidth rectangular DRA with TE
₁₁₃
^y
mode is designed and manufactured. Measured results indicate that its maximum half power beamwidths in E-plane and H-plane are 210° and 137°, respectively, while its gains are over 2.2 dBi throughout the usable bandwidth from 3.02 to 3.26 GHz (7.6%).