Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 January 2014
In this paper, a new configuration of dual-band, dual-polarized microstrip antenna applicable to mobile base stations is proposed. The concept behind the new design is the use of an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) structure that operates in the required two bands beneath a radiating diamond shaped slot. The choice of the diamond-shaped slot is due to its support of an infinite number of resonant modes where the dimensions of the diamond shape have more degree of freedom that controls the excited modes when compared to the rectangular slot. The proposed antenna works over the 870–960 MHz (GSM850/GSM900) band and the 1710–2170 MHz (DCS1800/PCS1900/UMTS2100) bands for mobile communication systems. The antenna is suitable for transmitting and receiving mobile signals since it has two ports of orthogonal polarization. The antenna is fabricated on a combination of FR4 dielectric substrate and foam layers in order to achieve low cost. The proposed antenna yields high isolation between its two ports not exceeding −30 dB and a front-to-back ratio exceeding 15 dB. The average antenna gains are about 6.6 dBi at the GSM850/GSM900, 7.1 dBi at the DCS1800/PCS1900, and 6.8 dBi at the UMTS2100 bands. The theory of radiation is proved analytically and verified by comparing its results with some simulated results. Finally, a good agreement between the simulated and measured results is noticed.