Electrically Small, Enhanced Bandwidth, Low-Profile, Broadside-Radiating Huygens Dipole Antenna

An electrically small, low-profile, broadside-radiating, Huygens dipole antenna (HDA) with significantly enhanced bandwidth is presented. The near-field resonant parasitic (NFRP) grid array structure facilitates a broadband electric response; the three interdigital capacitors (IDCs)-loaded NFRP loops yield a broadband magnetic response with a lower profile and reduced size. By balancing the broadband resonant responses of both the electric and magnetic NFRP elements, an electrically small, broadside-radiating HDA with enhanced bandwidth performance characteristics is attained. The fabricated prototype exhibits a low profile, approximately 0.06λ0; an electrically small size, ka = 0.98; and a 14% impedance bandwidth that includes a 5.77% unidirectional bandwidth. Realized gain values, 2.6 - 4.2 dBi, together with a radiation efficiency over 76% are achieved over its entire operational bandwidth.