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2 years ago in Antenna Engineering , Engineering By Sobha

What is the difference between the design frequency and operating frequency in patch antennas?

While designing rectangular or circular patch antennas, I often calculate a target resonant frequency based on geometry and substrate.
However, measurements or simulations show the antenna resonates slightly differently in practice.
I want to understand the factors that cause this discrepancy and how to account for it in design.

All Answers (1 Answers In All)

By Harman Duneja Answered 1 year ago

From my experience, the design frequency is the theoretical resonance calculated from patch dimensions and dielectric properties, whereas the operating frequency is what you observe in simulation or measurement. I have seen shifts caused by substrate permittivity variation, thickness inaccuracies, fabrication tolerances, and fringing fields at the patch edges. I would recommend always accounting for these factors during design, using iterative simulations to fine-tune dimensions. In practice, a few percent difference is normal, and experienced designers often intentionally compensate geometry slightly to ensure the measured resonance aligns with the desired operating frequency.

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