A Low-Cost L-Probe Fed Dual-Polarized Slot Antenna for C-Band Phased-Array Applications

A dual-polarized L-probe fed microstrip patch antenna with high isolation and low cross-polarization levels is proposed. The proposed antenna has been designed and analyzed by using commercially available software - High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) based on the finite element method algorithm and a simple resonant equation and Computer Simulation Technology Microwave Studio (CST MWS) based on the finite-difference-time-domain algorithm. A prototype antenna is built and tested. The return loss has been compared between measured and simulated data under the criterion of VSWR less than 2 through out the designed 4.95 to 5.05GHz frequency range. The measured isolation between two ports is higher than 22 dB and the gain is larger than 3 dBi. The cross-polarization levels in both E and H planes are better than -21 dB, along with fair regular radiation patterns.