Lecture-6

5.9 Cavity model for the radiated field of a rectangular patch

The microstrip patch is represented by the cavity model reasonably well assuming that the material of the
substrate is truncated and does not extend beyond the edges of the patch. The four side walls (the
magnetic walls) represent four narrow apertures (slots) through which radiation takes place.
The equivalence principle is used to calculate the radiated fields. The field inside the cavity is assumed
equal to zero, and its influence on the field in the infinite region outside is represented by the equivalent
surface currents on the surface of the cavity.

Fig. 5.17 Current densities on sides of rectangular microstrip patch

Because of the very small height h of the substrate, the field is concentrated beneath the patch. There is
some actual electrical current at the top metallic plate, however, its contribution to radiation is negligible.
That is because: (1) it is backed by a conductor, and (2) it is very weak compared to the equivalent
currents at the slots. The actual electrical current density of the top patch is maximum at the edges of the
patch.
In the cavity model, the side walls employ magnetic-wall boundary condition, which sets the tangential H
components at the slots equal to zero. Therefore,

J s n H=0

(5.41)

Only the equivalent magnetic current density

M s n E
has substantial contribution to the radiated field.

(5.42)

Fig.5.18 Equivalent current densities on sides of rectangular microstrip patch

The influence of the infinite ground plane is accounted for by the image theory, according to which the
currents M s in the presence of the infinite plane radiate as if magnetic currents of double strength radiate
into free space:

M s 2n E

(5.43)

Note that an E x field at the slots corresponds to M s density vector, which is tangential to the ground
plane. Thus, its image is of the same direction. The equivalent magnetic current densities for the dominant
x
TM 001
mode are sketched below.

x
Fig. 5.19 Equivalent magnetic current densities for the dominant TM001

At slots #1 and #2, the equivalent M s currents are co-directed and with equal amplitudes. They are
constant along x and y.

5.10 Radiation from a slot with constant current density

Fig. 5.20: Radiation from a slot

The radiation from an (x-y) slot of constant

Ms

current can be found using the electric vector potential F.

Since M s has only a y component, so does F Fy y

Fy r , ,
4

h /2 W /2

h /2 W /2

My
rPQ

jk0 rPQ

dx ' dy '

(5.44)

Here, M y 2 E0 , E0 being the phasor of the E-field at the radiating slot, and
rPQ r r ' r r x 'sin cos y 'sin sin
e jk0 r
Fy 2 E0
4 r

Fy

h /2

(5.45)

exp jk0 x 'sin cos dx '.

h /2

W /2

exp jk0 y 'sin sin dy '

(5.46)

W /2

E0Wh jk0 r sin X sin Y

e

2 r
X
Y

(5.47)

where
k h
X 0 sin cos ,
2
kW
Y 0 sin sin .
2
According to the relation between the far-zone E-field and the vector potential,

Er 0, E j F , E j F

(5.48)

where

0 / 0 ,
F Fy cos sin ,
F Fy cos
E j 0

WhE0 jk0 r
sin X sin Y
e
cos sin
2 r
X
Y

(5.49)

WhE0 jk0 r
sin X sin Y
e
cos
2 r
X
Y

(5.50)

E j 0

Since 0 k0 , so

E jk0W

V0 jk0 r
sin X sin Y
e
cos sin

2 r
X
Y

E jk0W

V0 jk0 r
sin X sin Y
e
cos

2 r
X
Y

(5.51)

(5.52)

Here V0 hE0 is the voltage between the patch edge and the ground plane.
Slots #1 and #2 form an array of two elements with excitation of equal, magnitude and phase, separated
by the physical distance L. So the array factor ( AF) is

k0 Leff

AF12 2cos
cos
2

(5.53)

Here Leff L 2L is the effective patch length. Thus, the total radiated field is

Et j

k0WV0 jk0 r
sin X sin Y k0 Leff
e
cos

sin

cos
cos

r
X
Y 2

Et j

k0WV0 jk0 r
sin X sin Y k0 Leff
e
cos
cos
cos
r
X
Y 2

(5.54)

(5.55)

Introducing, Z k0 Leff / 2 cos , the pattern of the patch is obtained as

f , E2 E2 1 sin 2 sin 2

sin X sin Y
cos Z .
X
Y

(5.56)

E-plane pattern (xz plane, 0 0 ,00 1800 )

k h

sin 0 sin
2

cos k0 Leff cos

f E

k0 h
2

sin
2

(5.57)

H-plane pattern (xy plane, 900 , 00 900

and 2700 3600 )

k h

k W

sin 0 cos sin 0 sin

2

f H cos
k0 h
k0W
cos
sin
2
2

(5.58)