Coplanar patch antennas at Ka-band

In this paper, we presented simulation and experimental results of coplanar patch antennas (CPAs) at Ka-band for millimeter-wave application. The antennas were developed based on a new concept of "coplanar patch." Coplanar patch antenna consists of a patch surrounded by closely spaced ground conductor and a coplanar waveguide feed line, which has a similar geometric configuration as the loop slot antenna but different behavior. Simulation have been done by using a method of moment based commercial package, IE3D. Ka-band coplanar patch antennas were designed and fabricated on a substrate with dielectric constant of 2.17 and thickness of 0.254 mm. Return loss, gain and radiaion patterns were measured. The simulation and measured results demonstrated the performance and the usefulness of the coplanar patch antennas. Similarity of the microstrip patch antenna and coplanar patch antenna, and some design rules for the patch have been also discussed.