Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 November 2015
In this paper, a rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) with a parasitic gap-coupled microstrip resonator (MSR) is investigated; analytically, and experimentally. The proposed antenna uses an open-ended half-wavelength MSR patch as a hybrid radiator. Radiating modes are identified for both the radiators. Two separate and fully independent modes are merged together to get an enhanced bandwidth. The antenna can offer three modes of operation, mode 1 (only DRA is active), mode 2 (only MSR is active), and the mode 3 (both DRA and MSR are active). In mode 3, the antenna offers a single wideband operation with ≈11% bandwidth by merging modes 1 and 2 with a broadside radiation pattern. Two switches are proposed to realize the three modes of operation. A p–i–n diode is utilized as switching element in simulations. Multiple antennas have been fabricated using a small metal strip as a switch to validate the proposal. Analytical, simulated, and measured results are found in harmony. A parametric study is done to describe the antenna characteristics. An approximate lumped element model is also extracted and presented.