Substrate-integrated-waveguide cavity-backed circularly polarized antenna with enhanced bandwidth and gain

We propose a method for increasing the bandwidth of a substrate-integrated-waveguide (SIW) cavity-backed antenna with taper-based microstrip SIW transition feeding. For radio transmission, a circular slot is etched on top of the SIW cavity. For optimal antenna design, the slot is etched slightly away from the cavity center to generate circularly polarized waves. Simulations show a wide axial ratio bandwidth of 7.860% between 11.02 GHz and 11.806 GHz. Experimental results confirm a similar wide axial ratio bandwidth of 4.9% between 10.8 GHz and 11.35 GHz. An SIW feed from an inductive window excites the radiating circular slot, resulting in a simulated wide impedance range of 1.548 GHz (10.338 GHz–11.886 GHz) and bandwidth of 13.93%. Experimental results show a wide impedance of 2.08 GHz (10.2 GHz–12.08 GHz) and bandwidth of 18.84%. The SIW cavity-backed antenna creates a unidirectional pattern, leading to gains of 6.61 dBi and 7.594 dBi in simulations and experiments, respectively. The proposed antenna was fabricated on a Rogers RT/Duroid 5880 substrate, and the reflection coefficient, radiation patterns, and gains were tested and compared using a computer simulator. The developed broadband antenna seems suitable for X-band applications.