T-shaped tri-band antenna based on characteristic mode analysis for satellite applications

This article presents a T-Shaped Tri-Band (TSTB) antenna based on the Characteristic Mode Analysis (CMA) for satellite applications. Tri-band characteristics are achieved by exciting two orthogonal radiating modes for the L5-band and L1-bands, and one higher order radiating mode for the S-band. Initially, cavity model theory is applied to a rectangular antenna to calculate orthogonal modes (TMz 010 & TMz 001) at L5-band and S-bands, and these modes are validated using the CMA method. With the help of surface current study and modification of a rectangular antenna, the one higher order radiating mode and orthogonal modes are excited by using the CMA method. All desirable radiating modes are excited by a single coaxial feed line in full-wave simulation, which is based on FIT (Finite Integration Technique). The proposed antenna’s measured operating frequencies are 1575MHz (L1-band) for GPS (Global Positioning System) system, 1174 MHz (L5-band), and 2495 MHz (S-band) for IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) applications, and corresponding impedance bandwidths at S11≤− 10dB are 24MHz (1563–1587MHz), 24MHz (1164–1188MHz), and 51MHz (2484–2535MHz), respectively. The proposed antenna layout is printed on low-cost FR4 material and exhibits good agreement between simulated and measured results using CST and HFSS EM-tool. The proposed antenna is single feed, low profile, and economical with stable broadside radiation patterns along with good gain.