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INVITED
PAPER

Printed Slot and Wire

Antennas: A Review

By Hisamatsu Nakano, Life Fellow IEEE , and Junji Yamauchi, Fellow IEEE

ABSTRACT | The first part of this paper focuses on printed slot reviewed. Although there has been done much work in this
antennas. Starting with discussions of a narrow modified slot field, due to limited space we mainly refer to the frequently
and a wide slot fed by a microstrip line, we proceed to a topic of cited papers. Note that an enhanced bandwidth reduces
generation of a circularly polarized beam. In addition, a rec- insensitivity to configuration parameters, and therefore
tangular slot antenna fed by a coplanar waveguide is described. increases fabrication tolerances in mass production.
The modification of a rectangular slot into an elliptical slot for Section II-A describes printed slot antennas fed by a
enhancing the bandwidth is also presented. The second part of microstrip line. First, a narrow slot antenna is presented
this paper covers wire antennas, first presenting the theoretical and then its configuration is modified to meet reduced
treatment and then the radiation characteristics of various size requirements. The frequency response of the return
configurations. It is described that a multiloop antenna exhibits loss characteristics is mentioned. A wide-slot antenna is
multiband characteristics; a spiral antenna has wideband char- also discussed, in which a fork-like tuning stub or a
acteristics with the help of resistive material; and a helical simple rotated slot is used to enhance the operating
element, having only the C region, radiates a circularly polar- bandwidth. Next, the generation of a circularly polarized
ized wave. An inverted F-antenna (IFA) backed by an electro- (CP) wave is summarized using two different structures.
magnetic band gap (EBG) reflector and a composite helical and The axial ratios of the dual-spiral slot and printed ring-slot
spiral (CHES) antenna are then presented, both radiating a antennas are discussed. Section II-B focuses on coplanar
tilted beam. Next, a curl antenna array that has an unrivaled waveguide (CPW) fed slot antennas. A key technique for
aperture efficiency of more than 90% is introduced. widening bandwidth is to use an appropriately designed
tuning stub. For a square slot antenna, a widened tuning
KEYWORDS | Circularly and linearly polarized waves; printed stub contributes to wideband operation, while for a
slot antennas; wideband and multiband operation; wire rectangular slot antenna, a T-shaped exciting stub achieves
antennas wideband operation. Further study shows that modifying
the rectangular slot to an elliptical slot also serves to
enhance the bandwidth.
I. INTRODUCTION Section III-A presents numerical analysis methods
Low-profile antennas are required for communication for wire antennas, where the wire is arbitrarily shaped
systems where the antenna installation space is limited [1], and is located 1) in free space, 2) on a dielectric sub-
[2]. Bandwidth enhancement is also a requirement, strate backed by a conducting ground plane, or 3) on a
particularly for ultrawideband (UWB) applications. semi-infinite dielectric material. The arbitrarily shaped
Printed slot and wire antennas meet these requirements. wire antenna for each of these three cases is formulated
In this paper, recent advances in these antennas are using an electric field integral equation, where the current
on the wire is treated as an unknown function. Section III-B
describes the antenna characteristics for representative
Manuscript received July 27, 2011; revised December 3, 2011; low-profile wire antennas, including loop, spiral, helical,
accepted December 7, 2011.
The authors are with the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Hosei University, inverted F, and composite helical and spiral (CHES)
Koganei, Tokyo 184-8584, Japan (e-mail: nakano@hosei.ac.jp). antennas. Techniques for realizing multiband operation
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/JPROC.2011.2180269 and wideband operation are discussed. In addition,

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Nakano and Yamauchi: Printed Slot and Wire Antennas: A Review

realization of CP radiation, a tilted beam, and a steerable

beam are discussed. Section III-C refers to low-profile wire
array antennas, including curl, helical, and grid arrays.
Section IV provides brief conclusions.

II. PRINTE D S LOT ANTENNAS

A. Slot Antennas Fed by a Microstrip Line

Fig. 2. (a) Simulated return loss of the L-slot antenna, on FR-4
1) Printed Narrow-Slot Antenna: Antenna miniaturization substrate ("r ¼ 4:5, h ¼ 0.81 mm, tan  ¼ 0:02), fed by a straight
(achieving a small antenna height) for mobile handsets and feed line: L ¼ 11 mm, Fl ¼ 18.5 mm, St ¼ 9 mm [Fig. 1(a)], inclined feed
other wireless applications is an important issue [3]. For line: Fl ¼ 16.5 mm, St ¼ 7.5 mm [Fig. 1(b)], bent feed line: Ft ¼ 17 mm,
such applications, a slot antenna is of major interest, St ¼ 7.5 mm [Fig. 1(c)], and (b) the simulated input impedance on a
Smith chart of the L-slot antenna, fed by a straight feed line. Other
because of its simple structure. A basic structure of the slot
antenna parameters are: GW ¼ 50 mm, GL ¼ 80 mm, SW ¼ 7 mm
antenna consists of a narrow straight slot fed electromag- (except at the bend), L1 ¼ 18.5 mm, L2 ¼ 11.5 mm. (From [4].)
netically by a microstrip transmission line. The configu-
ration of the straight slot can be modified to meet reduced
size requirements. An extensive study of this type of
antenna has been done by Shafai et al. [4], [5]. its characteristic impedance is 50- on the feed line sub-
The geometry of an L-slot antenna, with straight, strate. The feed line is excited by a 50- probe, as shown
inclined, and bent feed lines, is shown in Fig. 1(a)–(c). in Fig. 1. The optimized antenna parameters are included
The L-slot is positioned at the center of the edge of a in the caption of Fig. 2. The simulated return loss data for
narrow ground plane and is fed by a 50- microstrip line the L-slot antenna on a lossy FR-4 substrate, with the
(height 0.81 mm). The slot comprises one vertical slot of straight, inclined, and bent feed lines, are shown in
length L1 and one horizontal slot of length L2 , with their Fig. 2(a). The impedance bandwidths are 82.1% (2.24–
ends connected. The overall slot length is kept close to 5.36 GHz), 75.7% (2.48–5.5 GHz), and 67.2% (2.47–
one-quarter wavelength. Compared to the straight slot 4.97 GHz), respectively, for a 10-dB return loss criterion.
case, the L-slot is occupying only 23% of the ground plane To help understand the phenomenon behind this
length ðGL Þ, leaving more space for electronic circuitry. wideband impedance performance, a Smith chart of the
The width of the microstrip feed line is chosen such that input impedance is given in Fig. 2(b). It shows three loops,
corresponding to four nulls present on its return loss plot
in Fig. 2(a). Thus, a monopole L-slot shows four dominant
resonances, as compared to two for a straight slot. It
appears, therefore, that the two orthogonal arms of the slot
act as separate and tightly coupled resonators, and their
mutual coupling displaces their resonances toward lower
and higher end frequencies, as shown in Fig. 2(a). This
phenomenon enlarges the bandwidth significantly.
Note that the horizontal arm length can be further
increased by converting the L-slot into an inverted T-slot.
Details on this topic can be found in [4].

2) Printed Wide-Slot Antenna: Another way to achieve

wideband characteristics is to combine a wide slot with a
tuning stub [6], [7]. Sze and Wong [8] have investigated an
example of this structure.
The configuration of this type of antenna is shown in
Fig. 3(a). The wide slot is fed by a 50- microstrip line
with a fork-like tuning stub, which is printed on the op-
posite side of the microwave substrate (0.8-mm thickness)
and placed symmetrically with respect to the centerline of
the wide slot. By selecting proper dimensions for the fork-
like tuning stub, a good impedance match can be obtained
Fig. 1. L-slot antenna, fed using three different shape feed lines: for the printed wide-slot antenna over a significantly
(a) straight, (b) inclined, and (c) bent. (From [4].) enhanced bandwidth.

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Nakano and Yamauchi: Printed Slot and Wire Antennas: A Review

Fig. 3 (a) Microstrip-line-fed printed wide-slot antenna with a fork-like tuning stub, and (b) the measured return loss against frequency;
"r ¼ 4:4, h ¼ 0.8 mm, L ¼ W ¼ 53.7 mm, wf ¼ 1.5 mm, and ground-plane size ¼ 110 mm  110 mm. (From [8].)

Measured return loss results from several design ex- angles need different tuning-stub lengths [L in Fig. 4(a)] to
amples (denoted as antennas 1–3) are shown in Fig. 3(b). A obtain impedance matching.
conventional antenna with a simple straight tuning stub The measured and simulated return loss results are
(denoted as the Breference antenna[) is also illustrated for shown in Fig. 4(b). It is found that the widest bandwidth can
comparison. It is seen that antenna 2 has an impedance be obtained when the rotation angle is nearly 45 . This is
bandwidth of 1091 MHz for a VSWR (voltage standing wave due to the fact that resonant modes in the vicinity of the
ratio) ¼ 1:5 criterion, which is nearly ten times that of the fundamental mode can be excited by the rotated square wide
reference antenna (115 MHz). Antennas 1 and 3 also have slot. The impedance curve can have different loops on the
bandwidths that are larger than the reference antenna. This Smith chart depending on the rotation angle of the square
bandwidth enhancement is obtained mainly through the slot.
improved coupling between the microstrip feed line and
the wide slot provided by the fork-like tuning stub. 3) Printed Slot Antennas Generating a CP Wave: Up to
Jan and Su introduced a different approach to enhancing now, we have described antennas that radiate a linearly
the bandwidth [9]. They proposed a printed wide-slot polarized wave. However, applications, for instance, to
antenna with a slot rotated by an angle , as shown in satellite communications, require generation of a CP wave,
Fig. 4(a). The printed wide slot is chosen to be a square, in since we do not need to pay attention to the direction of
order to excite two modes with close resonant frequencies. polarization, as long as the rotational sense of the CP is the
The ground plane is also chosen to be square. Simulated same. There are several methods for obtaining a CP wave
results show that square slot antennas with various rotation in slot antennas.

Fig. 4. (a) Microstrip-line-fed printed square slot antenna with a rotated slot, and (b) the measured and simulated results of return loss,
where  ¼ 45 and L ¼ 31.5 mm. (From [9].)

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Nakano and Yamauchi: Printed Slot and Wire Antennas: A Review

Fig. 5. (a) Dual-spiral slot antenna fed by a triplate transmission line, and (b) the return loss. (From [10].)

Hirose and Nakano [10] have proposed a dual-spiral The measured axial ratio is shown in Fig. 6(b). This design
slot antenna fed by a triplate transmission line (TTL). can also be applied to an annular-ring-slot antenna. Details
Generation of a CP wave can be expected by analogy from on this antenna can be found in [11].
its wire counterpart. The use of the TTL contributes to
generating a unidirectional beam. The configuration is B. Slot Antennas Fed by a CPW
shown in Fig. 5(a), where the thickness of the TTL is 4 mm. The planar CPW system is an attractive feed system,
To obtain a good axial ratio, a traveling-wave magnetic due to its ease of integration with radio-frequency/
current is necessary, since it provides a phase rotation of 2 microwave circuitry, thereby lowering the manufacturing
rad along an effective one-wavelength circumference of the cost [12], [13]. Some attempts to broaden the bandwidth
spiral. This can be achieved by properly choosing the length have been performed using the CPW system [14]–[18].
of the spiral arm. Fig. 5(b) shows the return loss under CP Chen [14] has introduced a CPW-fed square slot
radiation; the bandwidth for a 14-dB return loss antenna with a widened tuning stub. The impedance
(VSWR ¼ 1:5) criterion is 4.2%. bandwidth is mainly determined by the width and length
Wong et al. have presented a printed ring-slot antenna of the tuning stub. The maximum impedance bandwidth
that introduces asymmetry in the slot structure [11], as reaches 1320 MHz (1560–2880 MHz; approximately 60%).
shown in Fig. 6(a). A meandered slot section is used to A similar approach has been adopted by Lin and Hung
perturb the symmetry of the ring-slot antenna, splitting the [15]. They developed a compact UWB aperture antenna
fundamental resonant mode into two orthogonal degenerate using a T-shaped feed stub. The configuration of this an-
resonant modes for CP radiation. The optimal value of the tenna is shown in Fig. 7(a). The measured and simulated
meander length ‘2 in this study is obtained through return loss of the optimized configuration is shown in
numerous experiments, and is found to be approximately Fig. 7(b). The input impedance is well matched, so that
40% of L2 (the square ring-slot’s inner linear dimension). the 10-dB return loss bandwidth covers the entire UWB

Fig. 6. (a) Circularly polarized printed ring-slot antenna, and (b) the measured axial ratio in broadside direction of the circularly polarized printed
ring-slot antenna. (From [11].)

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Nakano and Yamauchi: Printed Slot and Wire Antennas: A Review

Fig. 7. (a) Proposed antenna, and (b) the return loss, where LL ¼ 35, WW ¼ 30, Ls ¼ 23, Ws ¼ 13, L ¼ 10:8, W ¼ 4, T ¼ 2, S ¼ 3:6, h ¼ 1:6,
and G ¼ 0:4 (unit: millimeter). (From [15].)

band (3.1–10.6 GHz). The difference in the bandwidth So far, we have restricted our discussion to rectan-
between the two models in [14] and [15] mainly results gular slot antennas. In contrast, Li et al. have studied
from the optimization of the aperture shape. elliptical/circular slot antennas for UWB applications,
A different approach was developed by Chiou et al. [16]. where a U-shaped tuning stub [17] is employed [18]. Two
They introduced four metallic strips, which protrude from types of feed systems, the microstrip line and the CPW
the four corners of a square slot toward the slot center, as systems, are investigated. The antenna geometry is illus-
shown in Fig. 8(a). The measured return loss is given in trated in Fig. 9, and the measured and simulated band-
Fig. 8(b). The presence of the loading strips causes a new widths of the return loss are tabulated in Table 1. These
resonant mode to be excited. By selecting an appropriate values meet the requirements for UWB applications.
length for the loading strips, this new resonant mode can be
shifted close to the antenna’s fundamental resonant mode,
III . WIRE ANTENNAS
resulting in a wide impedance bandwidth. From the results,
it can be seen that an enhanced impedance bandwidth is
A. Integral Equations for Wire Antenna Analysis
obtained when the loading strip length ‘1 is chosen such
In 1965, Mei derived an integral equation for an
that ‘1 =‘2 is in a range of approximately 0.6–0.8 (‘2 : pro-
arbitrarily shaped wire of length L [19]
truding signal strip length). The maximum impedance
bandwidth is as large as 1410 MHz or approximately 62.9%, ZL Zs
0 Mei 0 0 j
centered at roughly 2.2 GHz, which is also roughly two Iðs Þ ðs; s Þds ¼ B cos s Ei sin ðsÞd (1)
Z0
times that of an antenna without the loading strips ð‘1 ¼ 0Þ. 0 0

Fig. 8. (a) CPW-fed strip-loaded square slot antenna, and (b) the measured return loss against frequency for the proposed antenna
with a fixed tuning-stub length ‘2 ¼ 24.5 mm. (From [16].)

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Nakano and Yamauchi: Printed Slot and Wire Antennas: A Review

calculation, and one a triple integral calculation, thereby

dramatically reducing the computation time [25]. Note that
an integral equation for an arbitrarily shaped wire antenna
on a dielectric half-space was also derived in 1998 [26].

B. Representative Wire Antennas

1) Loop Antenna: A square loop antenna has a simple

resonant structure [27], [28]. Fig. 10(a) shows an antenna
system composed of N discrete square loops (antenna
height h ¼ 1 cm). Analysis based on an integral equation
reveals that each of the loops resonates when its circum-
Fig. 9. (a) Elliptical/circular slot antenna fed by a microstrip line and
(b) elliptical/circular slot antenna fed by a CPW, where t ¼ 1.5 mm.
ference is approximately one wavelength [29]. It follows
(From [18].) that a discrete multiloop (ML) antenna has minima in the
frequency response curve of the VSWR, as shown in
Fig. 10(b). In other words, the discrete ML acts as a
multiband antenna.
where the wire is in free space, and Iðs0 Þ is an unknown
current. The integral kernel Mei ðs; s0 Þ in (1) involves
integral and differential calculations. Fourteen years later,
the kernel Mei ðs; s0 Þ was transformed into a closed kernel
Nakano (without any integral and differential calculations)
[20], [21], which remarkably reduced the computation
time and facilitated more extensive wire antenna analysis.
In 1981, Rana and Alexopoulos derived an integral
equation for a straight wire antenna printed on a dielectric
substrate [22], and in 1988, Nakano et al. derived an in-
tegral equation for an arbitrarily shaped wire on a dielectric
substrate [23], based on
ZL 
@ @
Iðs0 Þ  fs ðs; s0 Þ  ðs; s0 Þg
@s @s0
0

þ k20 ð^s  ^s0 Þs ðs; s0 Þ ds0 ¼ Eis ðsÞ (2)

Q Q
where s ðs; s0 Þ and ðs; s0 Þ are Hertz vector potential
functions, which include surface wave effects. Equation
(2) has been solved using the method of moments (MoM)
[24], where each of the impedance matrix elements Zm;n
(m ¼ 1; 2; . . . ; N: n ¼ 1; 2; . . . ; N) is composed of four
terms, all involving a triple integral calculation. In 2005,
these four terms were reduced to three terms: one in-
volving a single integral calculation, one a double integral

Table 1 Measured and Simulated Bandwidths of Printed Elliptical/Circular

Slot Antennas. (From [18].)

Fig. 10. N discrete square loops. (a) Configuration. (b) VSWR

characteristic ðN ¼ 7Þ. (c) Nakano coupling. (From [29].)

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Nakano and Yamauchi: Printed Slot and Wire Antennas: A Review

When the N square loops are connected by wires at the

four loop corners, this modified loop has a relatively wide
characteristic with respect to the VSWR: an approximately
16% bandwidth (VSWR ¼ 2 criterion) for N ¼ 7, which is
more than 2.5 times the bandwidth of a single-loop
antenna ðN ¼ 1Þ.
Note that the loops (radiation elements) are coupled to
the coaxial feed line electromagnetically via an inverted
L-line, as shown in Fig. 10(c). This is called Nakano coupling
(L-line coupling), which was first applied to a C-figured
loop antenna in 1995 [30]. The advantage of Nakano
coupling is that it eases impedance matching [31], leading
to a wide impedance bandwidth. [32]–[35].

2) Spiral Antenna: The radiation mechanism of a spiral

antenna suspended in free space was first qualitatively ex-
plained using current band theory [36], and later quanti-
tatively described using the current distribution based on
an integral equation [21]. The spiral radiates a CP wave in
the two directions normal to the spiral plane (bidirectional
radiation), due to the outgoing current decaying from the Fig. 11. Spiral antenna backed by a shallow cavity. (a) Perspective
view. (b) Side view. (c) Current distribution. The spiral is excited
feed point to the arm ends. Thanks to the decaying current,
without a balun. (From [39].)
the antenna exhibits almost constant input impedance over
a wide frequency range.
For practical applications, the bidirectional radiation is
transformed into unidirectional radiation by placing a connected; and 2) a helical antenna with a small number of
conducting reflector (or a cavity) behind the spiral. Gen- turns constituting only the C-region radiates a CP wave.
erally, as the distance between the spiral and the reflector The latter finding leads to the realization of a low-profile
(antenna height) is decreased, the inherent wideband an- helix as a CP element, using the combination of a small
tenna characteristics degrade due to increase in reflected number of turns and a low pitch angle. Nakano et al. [42]
currents from the antenna arm ends. However, this degra- describe a two-turn helix of 4 pitch angle that exhibits a
dation can be mitigated by connecting resistors to the 12% bandwidth for a 3-dB axial-ratio criterion.
antenna arm ends or by placing an absorbing strip (ABS:
see Fig. 11) behind the outermost portion of the arms [38]. 4) Inverted F-Antenna: An inverted F-antenna (IFA),
A spiral antenna having an antenna height of less than which is considered a modified version of an inverted
=10 (: the wavelength at the lowest operating frequen-
cy) attains a frequency bandwidth of more than 1 : 3,
satisfying both a 3-dB axial ratio criterion and a
VSWR ¼ 2 criterion [39].

3) Helical Antenna: The current distribution of an

axial-beam helical antenna [40] has been analyzed using
an integral equation [41]. It is found that there are two
distinct regions: one region (C-region) from the feed
point to a point near the end of the second turn, and the
other region (S-region) just after the C-region, as shown
in Fig. 12. The current distributed along the C-region
generates backfire radiation toward the conducting flat
reflector. This backfire radiation is reflected by the flat
reflector, and then excites the S-region, inducing a tra-
veling wave current whose amplitude is almost constant,
except near the arm end. In other words, the C-region
acts as an exciter and the S-region acts as a director (a
waveguide element).
There are two findings for this antenna: 1) the helical Fig. 12. Current distribution of an axial-mode helical antenna.
antenna can work even when these two regions are dis- (From [41].)

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Nakano and Yamauchi: Printed Slot and Wire Antennas: A Review

Fig. 13. Inverted F-antenna. (a) Configuration. (b) Radiation pattern.

(From [44].)

L-antenna or a bent monopole antenna [43], has an antenna

height of approximately =10 (: wavelength) above a Fig. 14. Low-profile composite helical and spiral (CHES) antenna.
(a) Perspective view. (b) Side view. (c) Radiation pattern. (From [48].)
conducting reflector [perfect electric conductor (PEC)].
For practical applications in portable devices, the antenna
height must be as small as possible. It has been found that
changed as a function of frequency; max is between 28
the antenna height can be decreased from =10 [44],
and 34 for a design frequency range of 11.7–12.75 GHz
without deteriorating the input impedance characteristic, if
(Ku-band for satellite communications), where an an-
the PEC reflector is replaced with an electromagnetic band
tenna height is approximately 6 mm. Within this fre-
gap (EBG) reflector [45]. This is attributed to the fact that
quency range, the axial ratio in the beam direction is less
the reflection coefficient at the EBG surface is  ¼ 1
than 3 dB, the input impedance is almost constant, and
(in-phase reflection). The antenna height above the EBG
the gain reduction is very small.
reflector surface in Fig. 13(a) is extremely small: 0:01.
In this case, the IFA forms a tilted beam toward the x
space, as shown in Fig. 13(b), due to the induced cur- C. Wire Antenna Array
rent on the EBG surface, whose phase is delayed toward A high-gain antenna system can be realized using an
the negative x-direction. array technique, where each array element is connected to
In [46], four IFAs (IFAx on x-axis, IFAy on y-axis) the feed point by a transmission line. In the microwave
are arrayed symmetrically with respect to the origin of an frequency band, a microstrip line [49] is commonly used as
EBG reflector. If the IFAþx (IFAx ) is excited with the the transmission line for the array antenna. This line is, in
other three being parasitic, the beam is tilted toward the general, lossy due to the dielectric substrate on which the
x (þx) space. Similarly, if the IFAþy (IFAy ) is excited strip line is printed. In addition, the microstrip line radiates
with the other three being parasitic, the beam is tilted energy while delivering power from the feed point to the
toward the y (þy) space. Thus, four beam directions are array elements. These factors reduce the radiation
selected by changing the feed point. Thus, a steerable efficiency, and hence, the aperture efficiency.
beam antenna [47] is realized. To overcome this issue of low radiation efficiency, a
wireless feed system (electromagnetic coupling feed sys-
5) Composite Helical and Spiral Antenna: An antenna tem) can be adopted for the wire antenna array. Fig. 15(a)
that radiates a tilted beam is often required in applica- shows such an array, where curl antennas are arrayed
tions, such as mobile communications systems, satellite above a circular cavity [50]. The distance between the
communications systems, and wireless local area net- upper and lower parallel plates of the cavity is less than
work (LAN) systems. In response to this requirement, a one half-wavelength. The vertical section of each curl
low-profile composite helical and spiral (CHES) antenna, antenna is inserted into the cavity to receive power ra-
shown in Fig. 14(a), has been developed [48]. A tilted diated from a feed probe located at the center of the
beam is formed using the phase difference in the cur- lower plate. The excitation amplitude of each curl an-
rents flowing along the helical arm and the spiral arm, tenna is controlled by the insertion length of the vertical
connected to the end of the helical arm. Fig. 14(c) shows section into the cavity, while the excitation phase is con-
a representative radiation pattern. A detailed analysis trolled by the rotation angle around the vertical section.
reveals that the angle of maximum radiation in the ele- Both the uniform amplitude condition and the in-phase
vation plane, i.e., tilt angle max , remains relatively un- condition are realized by using a vector rotation method

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Nakano and Yamauchi: Printed Slot and Wire Antennas: A Review

Fig. 15. Curl antenna array. (a) Configuration. (b) Measured gain and
aperture efficiency for 168-curl antenna array. (From [50].)

[51], thereby the array has maximum directivity in the

z-axis direction. Fig. 15(b) shows the measured gain for a
168-curl antenna array, together with the aperture effi-
ciency ; the maximum aperture efficiency reaches an
unrivaled value of more than 90%. This curl array antenna Fig. 16. Grid array antenna on a dielectric substrate. (a) Configuration.
has been used as a Ku-Band direct-broadcasting-satellite- (b) Current distribution (amplitude). (From [25].)
receiving antenna, where the antenna height above the
cavity surface is 3.8 mm.
Note that the technique used for the curl antenna array
IV. CONCLUSION
has also been applied to an axial-mode helical antenna ar-
ray, which is designed for the S- and X-band feeds of a VLBI Recently developed printed slot and wire antennas have
Exploration of Radio Astronomy (VERA) antenna [52]. been reviewed. Narrow-slot and wide-slot antennas fed
The radiation from the aforementioned curl and helical from a microstrip line can be modified to enhance the
antenna arrays is circularly polarized. In contrast, the working bandwidth. Some antennas for generating a CP
radiation from a wire grid array antenna (GAA), shown in beam have also been introduced. A widened tuning stub
Fig. 16(a), is linearly polarized. Recent analysis, based on is used to enhance the bandwidth of slot antennas fed
the MoM with (2) and the finite-difference time-domain by a CPW.
method (FDTDM) [53], reveals that the current along the Wire antenna analysis methods have been described
grid wire on a dielectric substrate (thickness of 1.32 mm) and the radiation characteristics of loop, spiral, helical,
exhibits a standing wave behavior, as shown in Fig. 16(b), inverted F, and CHES antennas have been discussed. A
where the GAA is fed from its center point in balanced curl antenna array with an unrivaled aperture efficiency of
mode [25]. The maximum radiation in this case is in the more than 90% has been presented. h
direction normal to the grid array plane (broadside beam).
It is noted that the bandwidth for a VSWR ¼ 2 criterion
Acknowledgment
under the broadside radiation is widened, when negative
effects due to the dielectric substrate (surface waves The authors would like to thank V. Shkawrytko and
generation) are deleted; an approximately 12% bandwidth H. Mimaki for their assistance in the preparation of this
is obtained in [54]. manuscript.

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A. Ittipiboon, Microstrip Antenna J. R. Mosig, BPCS antenna design: The
[1] K. Fujimito and J. James, Mobile Design Handbook. Norwood, MA: challenge of miniaturization,[ IEEE
Communication Systems. Norwood, Artech House, 2001.
MA: Artech House, 1994.

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Nakano and Yamauchi: Printed Slot and Wire Antennas: A Review

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Nakano and Yamauchi: Printed Slot and Wire Antennas: A Review

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Hisamatsu Nakano (Life Fellow, IEEE) received Junji Yamauchi (Fellow, IEEE) received the Dr.E.
the Dr.E. degree from Hosei University, Tokyo, degree from Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan, in
Japan, in 1974. 1982.
Since 1973, he has been a member of the Since 1988, he has been a member of the
faculty of Hosei University, where he is now a faculty of Hosei University, where he is now a
Professor at the Electrical Engineering Depart- Professor at the Electrical Engineering Depart-
ment. His research topics include numerical ment. His research interests include circularly
methods for low- and high-frequency antennas polarized antennas and optical waveguides. He is
and optical waveguides. the author of Propagating Beam Analysis of
Dr. Nakano received the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON Optical Waveguides (London, U.K.: Research Stud-
ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION H. A. Wheeler Award in 1994. He was also the ies Press, 2003).
recipient of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation
Society Chen-To Tai Distinguished Educator Award
in 2006 and the recipient of the Prize for Science
and Technology (from Japan’s Minister of Educa-
tion, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology) in
2010. He is an Associate Editor of several journals
and magazines, such as Electromagnetics, the IEEE
ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION MAGAZINE, and the IEEE
ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS.

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