Electromagnetics

ISSN: 0272-6343 (Print) 1532-527X (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/uemg20

An omni-directional circularly polarized antenna

with a low profile and wide axial-ratio beamwidth

Jiang Liu, Xinwei Chen, Liping Han, Runbo Ma, Rongcao Yang & Wenmei
Zhang

To cite this article: Jiang Liu, Xinwei Chen, Liping Han, Runbo Ma, Rongcao Yang & Wenmei
Zhang (2018) An omni-directional circularly polarized antenna with a low profile and wide axial-ratio
beamwidth, Electromagnetics, 38:3, 155-165, DOI: 10.1080/02726343.2018.1446492

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/02726343.2018.1446492

Published online: 26 Mar 2018.

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ELECTROMAGNETICS
2018, VOL. 38, NO. 3, 155–165
https://doi.org/10.1080/02726343.2018.1446492

An omni-directional circularly polarized antenna with a low

profile and wide axial-ratio beamwidth
Jiang Liu, Xinwei Chen, Liping Han, Runbo Ma, Rongcao Yang, and Wenmei Zhang
College of Physics and Electronics Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

A novel low profile omni-directional circularly polarized (CP) antenna Received 27 October 2017
with wide axial-ratio (AR) beamwidth in the elevation plane is pro- Accepted 31 December 2017
posed. It is composed of a compound vortex radiator, a ground KEYWORDS
plane, and two groups of vias. By adjusting the structure of the Circularly polarized antenna;
compound vortex stub, |Eθ| = |Eφ| is realized in a wider range of θ. low profile; omni-directional
Also, the 90° phase difference between Eθ and Eφ is obtained by radiation; vortex radiator;
regulating the size of a sector patch at the end of the vortex stub. wide axial-ratio beamwidth
The measured results show that the proposed antenna has an impe-
dance bandwidth of 3.2% (3.03–3.13 GHz) and a 3 dB AR bandwidth
of 21.6% (2.5–3.17 GHz). Also, the 3 dB AR beamwidths at 3.10 GHz
are 270° and 274° in the φ = 0° and φ = 90° planes, respectively. A
good agreement between the simulated and measured results is
obtained.

Introduction
With the rapid development of wireless communication technology, omni-directional CP
antennas have gained more attention because of their wide signal coverage and strong anti-
interference ability. In Cai et al. (2016), an omni-directional CP antenna based on monopole
with six radial slots was presented. In Shi and Liu (2016), the omni-directional CP wave was
generated by a via-shorted circular patch with slits cut on the bottom and top planes. In Yu
et al. (2014), a CP patch antenna with omni-directional radiation characteristic based on top-
loaded monopole and vortex slots configuration was proposed. Also, a wideband low profile
omni-directional CP beam by utilizing two monopolar modes of a circular patch was achieved
(Pan, Zheng, and Hu 2014). In Chu et al. (2017), a low profile omni-directional CP antenna
was designed by arranging the multiple identical endfire CP elements into a circular array.
The above mentioned antennas have a low profile but a narrow AR beamwidth. In the
energy harvesting system, the antenna with a wide axial-ratio beamwidth is needed. In
Zhou et al. (2015), a wide-beam high-gain omni-directional CP radiation based on the
coaxial cylinder structure was realized. Fan et al. (2015) presented a wideband omni-
directional CP antenna which included four tilted dipoles surrounding a cylinder. In Li
and Leung (2013), the omni-directional CP wave was generated by employing dielectric
resonator antenna with a modified Alford loop. And in Pan and Leung (2013), a wideband
omni-directional CP antenna was designed by using a bird nest structure which consisted
of a feeding probe and parasitic dielectric parallelepiped elements.

CONTACT Wenmei Zhang zhangwm@sxu.edu.cn, wenmeizhang@hotmail.com College of Physics and Electronics,

Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/uemg.
© 2018 Taylor & Francis
156 J. LIU ET AL.

In this paper, a low profile omni-directional CP antenna using a compound vortex

radiator is designed and realized. |Eφ| and |Eθ| is adjusted by the shape of the vortex stubs
and the phase difference δθ–δφ between Eθ and Eφ is regulated by the radius l3 of the sector
patch. The realized antenna has a thickness of 0.033λ (where λ refers to the free-space
space wavelength at 3.10 GHz). The measured results show that the large 3 dB AR
beamwidths of 270° and 274° are obtained in the planes of φ = 0° and φ = 90°, respectively.

Antenna design
The proposed omni-directional CP antenna is shown in Figure 1. It is realized on the
substrate with thickness of 3.2mm, relative permittivity of εr = 2.65, and loss tangent of
0.001. It consists of a compound vortex radiator, a circular ground plane and two groups
of vias. The compound vortex radiator placed in the center of the antenna, consists of a
circular monopole patch and six vortex stubs. Two groups of vias (1st and 2nd group) are

l1
w1 d
Z Y

O r2
X
top layer r3
r1

l2
l3
Z w2
r patch

X YH
side view via ground coaxial probe F4B

Z Y

X r4
bottom layer

Figure 1. The structure of the wide AR beamwidth antenna.

 ELECTROMAGNETICS 157

Table 1. Optimized dimensions of the antenna.

Parameter r r1 r2 r3 r4 r5 r6
Value (mm) 33.0 30.0 13.2 19.7 21.0 27.0 24.0
Parameter l1 l2 l3 w1 w2 l12 θ12
Value (mm) 4.0 11.0 18.2 1.0 11.7 8.0 23.6

used to short the vortex stubs and the ground plane, and their distance away from the
patch center is r2 and r3, respectively. The detailed dimensions of the parameters are listed
in Table 1. The vortex stubs can be formed according to following steps as shown in
Figure 2.

(1) Subtract the semicircle O2 (with a radius of r6) from the semicircle O1 (with a
radius of r5) and form the shadow 1 as shown in Figure 2(a). The distance of the
two centers and the angle of two semi-circle diameter are l12, θ12, respectively;
(2) In Figure 2(b), subtract the semicircle O from the shadow 1 and get the shadow 2.
(3) In Figure 2(c), cut the shadow 2 and form the shadow 3.
(4) In Figure 2(d), introduce the sector patch and pad along the right arc edge of
shadow 3 and cut a rectangular slot in the inner edge of stub.

Figure 2. The formation details of the vortex stubs.

158 J. LIU ET AL.

Principle for CP
For the proposed CP antenna, the vertically polarized electric field Eθ is controlled by the
compound vortex radiator, ground plane and 1st group of vias. The horizontally polarized
electric field Eφ is affected by the sector patch in compound vortex stubs, the ground plane and
the 2nd group of vias. In this section, the principle for realizing omni-directional CP in the
azimuth plane and wide AR beamwidth in the elevation plane will be discussed by comparing
three different types of antennas (ant. 1–3), as shown in Figure 3. Their corresponding |Eθ|, |Eφ|
and the phase difference δθ–δφ between Eθ and Eφ are displayed in Figures 4 and 5.
First, without loss of generality, the principle for realizing omni-directional CP in the azimuth
plane is investigated using simulated results in the plane of θ = 90° at 3.1 GHz, as shown in
Figure 4. For ant. 1, without the sector patch and 2nd group vias, |Eφ| is around −6.5 dB, but |Eθ|
is lower than −22 dB. Simultaneously, the phase difference δθ–δφ is between 165° and 178° for all
φ. For ant. 2, after the sector patch and 2nd group vias are arranged, |Eθ| and |Eφ| still have large
difference although they all raised largely, in particular, |Eθ| rises to −7 dB. Also, δθ–δφ gradually

Figure 3. Antenna model: (a) ant. 1, (b) ant. 2, (c) ant. 3.

 ELECTROMAGNETICS 159

+X
+X =0
=0 0
0 330 30
330 30

-8 -8
300 60 300 60
-16 -16

-24 | E |,

dB
90 +Y
dB

270 90 +Y -24 270 |E |,

-24

|E | , -16
-16
240 |E | , 120 240 120
-8 -8

0 210 150 210 150

0
180 180

(a) (b)

+X
=0 180
0 330 30
150
-8
Phase Difference (Degree)
300 60
120
-16
|E , 90
dB

-24 270 90 +Y
|E |,
60
ant. 1
-16 ant. 2
240 30 ant. 3
120
-8
0
210 150 0 60 120 180 240 300 360
0
180 Azimuth Angle (Degree)

(d)
(c)
Figure 4. The simulation |Eθ|, |Eφ| and the phase difference δθ–δφ in θ = 90° plane: (a) for ant. 1, (b) for
ant. 2, (c) for ant. 3, (d) δθ–δφ for ant. 1–3.

goes down to 130°. For ant. 3, the middle side of the vortex stub is cut and a rectangular groove is
introduced. The |Eθ| and |Eφ| continue to increase, and basically equal in the whole plane of
θ = 90°. Meanwhile, the δθ–δφ further reduces to around 90°. Accordingly, omni-directional CP
fields are generated in the whole azimuth plane.
Next, the realizing mechanism of wide AR beamwidth in the elevation plane can be illustrated
by the corresponding results of ant. 1–3 in planes of φ = 0° and φ = 90° in Figure 5. For ant. 1, |Eθ|
is much less than |Eφ| and the phase difference δθ–δφ are around 170° in the range of θ = −180°~
−120° and 120°~180°, and around 10° for θ = −100°~100°. For ant. 2, |Eθ| and |Eφ| are raised
largely, especially around θ = 90° and 270°. Also, δθ–δφ gradually levels to around 120°. For ant. 3,
|Eθ| and |Eφ| within 24°–162° and 202°–336° are nearly equal, and the δθ–δφ further reduce to
around 90° besides θ = −15°~15°. As a result, CP fields with wide AR beamwidth is realized.

Parameter analysis
The numerical analysis for the whole antenna is made using HFSS. The results indicate
that l1 mainly affects the AR in the elevation plane; l2 has larger influence than other
parameter on the AR beamwidth of antenna; also, the phase difference δθ–δφ is mostly
160 J. LIU ET AL.

+Z +Z
0
0
0 330 30 0 330 30

-20 300 60 -20 300 60

-40 -40
dB

90 +X

dB
270 270 90+X
-40 -40

-20 240 120 240 120

-20

0 210 150 0 210 150

180 180

(a) (b)

+Z
0 180
0 330 30
150
-20 300 60 Phase Difference (Degree)
120

-40 90
dB

270 90 +X
60 ,
-40
ant. 1
ant. 2
30 ant. 3
-20 240 120

0
-180 -120 -60 0 60 120 180
0 210 150
180 Elevation Angle (Degree)

(c) (d)

Figure 5. The simulation |Eθ|, |Eφ| and the phase difference δθ–δφ in φ = 0° and φ = 90° plane: (a) for
ant. 1, (b) for ant. 2, (c) for ant. 3, (d) δθ–δφ for ant. 1–3.

determined by the radius l3 of the sector patch. Due to the results in the φ = 0° and φ = 90°
plane are similar, only the former is provided.

Effect of the l1
Figure 6 shows the AR in the elevation plane at 3.1 GHz for different l1. When l1 = 0 mm, i.e., the
rectangular groove has not been arranged, antenna has a large AR. The maximum AR appear at
φ = 30° and it is close to 3dB. With the increase of l1, AR decrease. In case of l1 = 4 mm, the AR in
the whole plane are all less than 1.5 dB. After that, when l1 increases, AR increases again.

Effect of the l2
Figure 7 shows the 3 dB AR beamwidth in the φ = 0° plane at 3.1 GHz for different l2. It can be
seen that, the range of 3 dB beam changes with increase of l2. When l2 = 9 mm, the 3 dB beam
mainly concentrating on both sides of 0°, and the beamwidth is only 134°. When l2 increase to
11 mm, the range of 3 dB AR beamwidth gradually deviates from 0° to ±180°. Meanwhile, the
 ELECTROMAGNETICS 161

+X l1 = 0mm
ϕ=0
l1 = 2mm
3 330 30
l1 = 4mm
l1 = 6mm
2 300 60

dB 270 90 +Y
1

2 240 120

3 210 150
180

Figure 6. The AR in the elevation plane at 3.1 GHz for different l1.

15
l2=9mm
l2=10mm
12
l2=11mm
l2=12mm
Axial Ratio (dB)

0
-180 -120 -60 0 60 120 180
Elevation Angle (Degree)

Figure 7. The 3 dB AR in φ = 0° plane at 3.1GHz for different l2.

3 dB AR beam also widens with l2 increasing, and covers the widest range as l2 = 11mm. While
l2 continues to increases to 12 mm, the 3 dB AR beamwidth reduced to 178°.

Effect of the l3
Next, the effects of the radius l3 of the sector patch on δθ–δφ, in φ = 0° plane are demonstrated in
Figure 8. It can be found that δθ–δφ increases from 50° to 115° when the l3 increases from
16.2 mm to 19.2 mm. When l3 = 18.2 mm, the phase difference δθ–δφ around 90° can be obtained.

Simulated and measured results

The Agilent N5230A vector network analyzer and the SZ-VL antenna automatic test
system (Lab-Volt corporation) are used to measure the antenna. The measured and
simulated results are shown in Figures 9–12.
162 J. LIU ET AL.

120

Phase Difference (Degree)

90

60

30
l3 =16.2mm l3 =17.2mm
l3 =18.2mm l3 =19.2mm
0
-180 -120 -60 0 60 120 180
Elevation Angle (Degree)

Figure 8. The phase difference δθ–δφ in φ = 0° plane at 3.1GHz for different l3.

Figure 9 plots the measured the simulated S11 and gains in case of θ = 90°, φ = 0°. It
could be found that the simulated and measured −10 dB impedance bandwidths of
proposed antenna are 2.9% (3.06–3.15 GHz) and 3.2% (3.03–3.13 GHz), respectively.
The measured peak gain is 1.39 dBic, reasonably agreeing with its simulated counterpart
of 1.44 dBic.
Figure 10 shows the simulated and measured ARs versus frequency in case of θ = 90°.
When φ = 0°, φ = 90°, the simulated 3 dB AR bandwidths are 21.6% (2.5–3.17 GHz) and
21.9% (2.5–3.18 GHz), respectively.
Figure 11 shows the simulated and measured ARs versus θ at 3.1 GHz. It is observed
that the simulated and measured 3 dB AR beamwidths are 294° (−19°–166° and 17°–164°)
and 298° (−23°–175° and 21°–167°), 270° (−24°–162° and 28°–160°) and 274° (−26°–164°
and 24°–160°) in the φ = 0° and φ = 90° plane, respectively.
The simulated and measured normalized radiation patterns of the proposed antenna at
3.1 GHz are shown in Figure 12. It is clearly seen that the elevation patterns have two nulls

0 1.6

1.2
-10
Gain (dBic)
(dB)

0.8
11

-20 (Simulated)
11
0.4
11
(Measured)
Gain (Simulated)
Gain (Measured)
-30 0.0
2.88 2.96 3.04 3.12 3.20 3.28
Frequency (GHz)

Figure 9. Measured and simulated S11 and Gains.

 ELECTROMAGNETICS 163

10 Simulated
Measured
Simulated
8 Measured

Axial Ratio (dB)

6

0
2.55 2.70 2.85 3.00 3.15 3.30
Frequency (GHz)

Figure 10. Simulated and measured ARs at φ = 0° and φ = 90°.

18
=0 (Simulated)
= 90 (Simulated)
15 =0 (Measured)
= 90 (Measured)
12
Axial Ratio (dB)

0
-180 -120 -60 0 60 120 180
Elevation Angle (Degree)

Figure 11. Simulated and measured ARs in the elevation plane at φ = 0° and φ = 90°.

in the boresight directions (θ = 0° and θ = 180°) while the azimuth patterns are omni-
directional. In the elevation plane, the simulated and measured co-polarized (RHCP) field
is at least 18.1 dBic and 17.2 dBic stronger than the corresponding cross-polarized (LHCP)
counterpart, respectively. For the azimuth plane, the corresponding values are 18.3 dBic
and 17.6 dBic, respectively. Good accordance is observed between the simulated and
measured results.
Finally, we list some key parameter of the typical omni-directional CP antennas in
Table 2. It can be concluded that the proposed design has the widest 3 dB AR beamwidth,
lower profile and small size.

Conclusions
A novel omni-directional CP antenna combining a vortex radiator and a circular ground
plane have been investigated and fabricated in this paper. The principle for realizing wide AR
beamwidth is analyzed in details with the studies of the related parameters. The proposed
164 J. LIU ET AL.

+Z +X
0
0
0 0 330 30
330 30

-10
-20 300 60
300 60
-20
-40

dB
-30 270 90 +Y
dB

270 90 +X
-40 -20

240 120
-20 240 120 -10

0 210 150
0 210 150 180
180

(a) (b)

Figure 12. Measured and simulated radiation pattern of the proposed antenna at 3.1 GHz: (a) elevation
plane, (b) azimuth plane.

Table 2. Comparison of the omni-directional CP antennas.

Center frequency Max gain 3 dB AR
References Dimension (GHz) (dBic) Structure Beamwidth
Cai et al. 2016 0.93λ0 × 0.93λ0 × 0.024λ0 2.32 2.5 Planar Conical beam
Shi and Liu 2016 0.38λ0 × 0.38λ0 × 0.028λ0 2.4 1.1 Planar 110°
Yu et al. 2014 0.85λ0 × 0.85λ0 × 0.140λ0 2.73 1 Nonplanar Conical beam
Chu et al. 2017 0.62λ0 × 0.62λ0 × 0.029λ0 5.8 1.05 Planar 159°
Fan et al. 2015 0.37λ0 × 0.37λ0 × 0.400λ0 2 1 Nonplanar 190°
Pan and Leung 2013 0.98λ0 × 0.98λ0 × 0.456λ0 4.5 6.02 Nonplanar Conical beam
Proposed 0.34λ0 × 0.34λ0 × 0.033λ0 3.1 1.39 Planar 270° (φ = 0°)
274° (φ = 90°)

antenna has the advantages of low profile, compact size, and wide signal coverage. As a result,
it can be a good candidate for wireless communication and energy harvesting systems.

Funding
This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (61771295, 61775126) and
the Science Foundation for Youths of Shanxi Province (2014021021-1, 2015011042).

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 ELECTROMAGNETICS 165

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