Design of Circularly Polarized Modified Minkowski Fractal Based Antenna for UHF RFID Reader Applications

Abstract

A compact, square shaped microstrip fractal antenna with asymmetrical pairs of T-slits for circularly polarized (CP) radiation and radio frequency identification (RFID) reader applications is proposed and experimentally investigated. Design is based on narrow slit modified Minkowski island fractal geometry. Circular polarization along with size reduction is achieved by inserting four symmetrical pairs of T-slits at the square patch boundary of the single-probe-feed radiator. Proposed geometry is tuned at resonant frequency of 914 MHz by optimization of dimensions of the two T-slits. Compactness of the antenna is achieved by increasing the overall sizes of the slits. Antenna is fabricated on FR4 substrate with a size of 47.2×47.2×1.6 mm3 (0.143λ0 X 0.143λ0 X 0.005λ0) and tested to validate the simulated results. The 3-dB axial-ratio (AR) bandwidth and impedance bandwidth of the proposed antenna design are found to be 7 MHz (911-918 MHz) and 24 MHz (909-933 MHz) respectively. A design equation is develped based on the parametric study that can be used to design a compact antenna with CP for UHF RFID applications covering the frequency range from 887 to 1023 MHz.