Area miniaturization of a microstrip patch antenna and the effect on the quality factor Q

In this work the area miniaturization of a rectangular microstrip patch antenna by inserting a slot parallel to the radiating edges, is investigated in relation to the quality factor. This slot forces the surface currents to meander, thus artificially increasing the antenna's electrical length without modifying the patch's global dimensions. A significant decrease in the resonant frequency is observed, depending on the slot's length and width. The resultant antennas can be characterized as small antennas in accordance to the relevant fundamental limitations.